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| Kamaal seeking to impose NC's sectarian will on Jammu | | Autonomy Resolution | | NEHA
JAMMU, Jun 1: National Conference (NC) general secretary Mustafa Kamaal has again taken on the Congress party and directed the party leadership not to "harass NC workers". He has warned the Congress leadership that any failure on its part to "mend its ways and stop harassing NC workers" would simply mean that it is "compromising whatever little mandate they have in Kashmir". Mustafa Kamaal, who is known for his very negative views on the Congress, took on the NC's coalition partner while addressing a convention of party workers at Dooru, Anantnag district, only the other day. His refrain was that it was the Congress party that had failed to "play a positive role in smooth functioning of the coalition government". As expected, the Congress party has not reacted to what Kamaal said and allowed him to go scot-free as before. Anyway, it was for the Congress party to react or not to react.
Significantly, Kamaal on that day not only lambasted the Congress party and asked it to behave failing which it would have to pay the price of unpopularity in Kashmir, but also ridiculed the interlocutors. He said: "The interlocutors appointed by the Government of India don't have the mandate of NC, which is true representative of the people of Kashmir. The party has made it clear that nobody can thrust any solution on people of Kashmir. India and Pakistan have to take the people of Kashmir as well as NC on board before deciding J&K's future. The interlocutors have ignored all the aspects and not even considered aspirations of people of Pakistan-administered-Kashmir. The NC has been safeguarding the interests, sentiments and aspirations of the people…People of Kashmir have provided peace a chance and now is the time they should reap the dividends. New Delhi should initiate some Confidence Building Measures (CBMs), including softening of borders, free trade, people-to-people contact across LoC, reduce footprints of forces at least to pre 1989 position and initiate dialogue with all shades of opinion in Kashmir…Though the autonomy resolution passed in J&K Assembly in 2000 with two-third majority was rejected by Government of India (GoI) but they should bear it in mind that it still holds a constitutional and legal relevance. Autonomy remains to be the only viable solution to the long pending Kashmir issue".
What he said suggested at least four things, one that his whole approach was Valley-centric, (2) that Jammu and Ladakh have no place whatsoever in his scheme of things, (3) that the NC would accept only that solution that grants greater autonomy to Kashmir, and (4) that the NC would feel satisfied only when New Delhi withdraws from the state. He also made it clear that the NC was extremely unhappy with the interlocutors, as they, according to him, did not come up to the expectations of the NC.
One can understand his negative remarks against the interlocutors. For, the interlocutors, who have recommended a review of all the central laws and institutions extended to the state after 1952, have suggested the constitution of three regional councils in the state, one each for Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, something that runs counter to the NC's stand on Jammu & Kashmir. The NC wants the state to remain a one political entity with Kashmir dominating the state's politico-constitutional and socio-economic institutions. The NC doesn't want any change in the state's constitution that gives an equal status to Jammu and Ladakh with Kashmir. Hence, what he said about the interlocutors should not surprise anybody in the state. His reference to the autonomy resolution should also not surprise anybody.
What should, on the contrary, cause a furore in Jammu and Ladakh was his provocative assertion that "Pakistan and India should take the people of Kashmir and the NC on board before deciding the J&K's future". He, undoubtedly, crossed the line by making such a suggestion. The people of Jammu and Ladakh, barring a few disgruntled elements here and there, hate the NC and what it stands for. The reasons are obvious and don't warrant any discussion on this issue. The NC doesn't represent even Kashmir. It had won less than 20 seats out of 46 in Kashmir in the 2008 assembly elections and its vote-share was also not substantial. In fact, the PDP had won more number of seats in Kashmir and got more votes, as compared to the NC.
It would be better if the likes of Mustafa Kamaal in the NC look all these facts in the face, retrospect and reform themselves. The best course for them would be to work for the division of the state, as in the division of the state lies a lasting solution to the issues facing different people inhabiting different regions of the state. Even otherwise, they have to refashion their whole approach considering the fact that the next election in the state would prove a Waterloo for the NC.
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