x

Like our Facebook Page

   
Early Times Newspaper Jammu, Leading Newspaper Jammu
 
Breaking News :   Back Issues  
 
news details
Desperate move of frustrated NC to woo Kashmiri constituency
Revocation of AFSPA
10/23/2011 12:02:09 AM
Rustam
JAMMU, Oct 22: The NC, which is gripped by an extreme sense of insecurity, frustration and despondency, is desperate to salvage its position through desperate moves overlooking the stark realty that it has already missed the bus. It did not performance and deliver during all these more than 33 months of its rule. Besides, it utterly failed to provide a transparent, humane, accountable and corruption-free administration. It would be no exaggeration to say that the state never got such a non-functional and controversial government after 1947. Frankly speaking, the plight of the people of the state was never so miserable as it has been since January 5, 2009, when the NC recaptured power with the backing of the Congress high command. Nor were the inter-regional relations so bitter and political situation in the state so frightening and uncertain.
Had the NC-led government delivered on some vital fronts or had it focused its attention on the issues of governance and catered to the basic civic and economic needs of the people during this period, things for it would have been much better and it would not have landed itself into a difficult situation it is in today. It focused its attention only on emotive and divisive issues. And the result was the widening of the gulf between the ruler and the ruled; the result was governance deficit and trust deficit. The trust deficit is so wide and palpable that the NC cannot now bridge the gulf between it and the people even if it changes its style of functioning. It has become so unpopular. The extent of the NC's popularity could be gauged from the fact that the bulk of local Congress leaders and workers has intensified oust-Omar Abdullah campaign on the ground that his style of functioning and his decisions have adversely impacted the Congress fortunes in the state in general and Jammu province in particular and that his continuation after December 2011 would seal the fate of the Congress party in the state. In other words, the NC has not only failed the people but has also miserably failed to keep the Congress on its right side.
Yesterday, the Chief Minister announced that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) would be withdrawn from certain areas within a few days as the situation in certain areas has considerably improved. It is obvious that it was his desperate move to outwit the PDP and woo the Kashmir constituency. It was not a wise declaration considering the fact that his move had the potential of giving an excuse to his political rivals to not only ridicule him but also to put forth a demand he would not be in a position to concede considering the prevailing security scenario. And it actually happened. Tehrik-e-Hurriyat, the APHC (M) and the PDP took no time in upping their ante, ridiculing him and demanding that the AFSPA be withdrawn from the entire state. There is no doubt that the PDP in particular would raise the pitch in the coming days and arouse popular passions in the Valley on this issue. Indeed, the Chief Minister has invited more trouble for himself and the NC, which is already being looked down upon in the entire state for obvious reasons.
But more than that, it was Army's Srinagar-based 15 Corps Commander Lt General S A Husnain who pooh-poohed the Chief Minister's suggestion and, instead, told media persons that "the deliberations on the subject (revocation of the AFSPA) are still going on"; that "we have our higher command and core group meeting but this issue has not come up for discussion even once"; and that 'I think we can make informed comments only after we have discussed the issue in-house". What General Husnain told media persons would surely be exploited by the adversaries of the Chief Minister and the result would be his humiliation. As for the Defence Ministry, the sources on Friday said that "though the situation in Kashmir has improved in the last few months but not to an extent to warrant revocation of the AFSPA".
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has, in short, created for himself a piquant situation. He has charted for himself a path he cannot tread. But, then, he has made the statement and it would be difficult for him to go back on what he said. The Army, which is involved in anti-insurgency operations in the state, is unlikely to oblige the Chief Minister and his NC. But one thing is certain: the Chief Minister's move would surely aggravate further the already rather complex situation in the Kashmir Valley and further damage the poll prospects of the Congress party, particularly in Jammu province, its core constituency. The Chief Minister's move could be described as a desperate move of the frustrated NC - move which is likely to boomerang.
  Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network  
  Comment on this Story  
 
 
top stories of the day
 
 
 
Early Times Android App
STOCK UPDATE
  
BSE Sensex
NSE Nifty
 
CRICKET UPDATE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Home About Us Top Stories Local News National News Sports News Opinion Editorial ET Cetra Advertise with Us ET E-paper
 
 
J&K RELATED WEBSITES
J&K Govt. Official website
Jammu Kashmir Tourism
JKTDC
Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board
Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board
Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board
UTILITY
Train Enquiry
IRCTC
Matavaishnodevi
BSNL
Jammu Kashmir Bank
State Bank of India
PUBLIC INTEREST
Passport Department
Income Tax Department
JK CAMPA
JK GAD
IT Education
Web Site Design Services
EDUCATION
Jammu University
Jammu University Results
JKBOSE
Kashmir University
IGNOU Jammu Center
SMVDU