One compulsion for CM Omar Abdullah to push for the restoration of J&K statehood is the pressure exerted by hardline Valley-based MLAs. Among the more vocal and petulant are those who still cling to the illusions of “Azadi” or “khud-ikhtiyari” or “Kashmiriyat.”
Omar Abdullah appears to have surrendered to these elements in the LA. This is evident from a litany of grievances he recounted while addressing the crowds assembled for the inauguration of the repaired structure of the Bone Hospital at Barzalla.
Of course, restoring the full status of the state was a key point in NC’s election manifesto. During the hustings, NC candidates made it the central focus of the election campaign. The reason is that the people of Kashmir were subtly led to believe that regaining full status would pave the way for a majority vote towards autonomy and greater Kashmir in terms of demographic composition.
Making tall promises during campaigns is common among leading national political parties. It is not something unique to Kashmir. However, a healthy democracy is guided by more rational elements within the ruling parties for many practical reasons. A leader with majority support must think beyond the empty rhetoric of election slogans and shouts. They are meant to lead, not to be led.
In the case of J&K, reorganisation of the state became necessary due to unique political reasons and their profound effects. An unprecedented situation arose from both external and internal forces, both aiming at the separation of the state from the Indian Union. It should be noted that there was a democratically elected government in the state when armed insurgency intensified to the point that the elected government resigned and withdrew from the scene. Six years later, in 1996, the leading political party again won the election and formed the government. From 1996 to 2014, a period of eighteen years, the state was governed through democratic processes.
The democratic regimes never addressed the militancy during those eighteen years. Instead, the political parties adopted an ambiguous stance by not once asking the militants to lay down their arms and resume normal life. The political parties maintained a sphinx-like attitude towards acts of militancy, mayhem, stone-throwing, and maligning the security forces. Sections of people were engaged in covertly helping separatists and militants by providing them with logistical and financial support. Hawala transactions and illegal money transfers infused life and longevity into the separatist movement.
This necessitated enacting the 2019 Reorganisation Act, which transformed the state into a Union Territory. Now, reversing this process to restore the state to its original status involves reinstating the state’s constitution to nullify the UT status. The Reorganisation Act of 2019 was the legislation through which the state was converted into a Union Territory.
Reverting the State to its original status must go through the parliamentary process. The Prime Minister or the Home Minister has no authority to restore the status. This responsibility lies with elected representatives of Parliament in both Houses. However, as of now, this is unlikely. Mr Abdullah will have to wait until 2029 for the next parliamentary election and hope that a new government will support his demand.
It must be remembered that nearly four lakh members of the Kashmiri Hindu minority were driven out of their homes and hearts in Kashmir in 1990 because they followed a faith different from that of the majority community. The exiled people are the original inhabitants, with a history spanning nearly ten thousand years in written records. No government, whether in Srinagar or in New Delhi, has ever given proper attention to the removal of this segment of Kashmiri citizens and the consequences of a criminal attitude towards them.
Recently, due to the fighting between Iran and Israel, Omar Abdullah’s government was rightly concerned about the safety of a few Kashmiri Muslim students studying in Iran. He requested the MEA to ensure their safe return to Kashmir. The issue was resolved within days. However, in the case of Kashmiri Pandits, thirty-six years have passed without any resolution or action. Why is that?
Omar Abdullah must first decide and act on what his government will do regarding the return and rehabilitation of the minority community forced out of their homes at gunpoint. This issue is closely linked to the revival of the original state, which was oppressive towards minorities. This oppression must be completely eliminated before granting statehood.
When Omar Abdullah and his party, along with other parties active in Kashmir, insist on restoring the statehood as it existed before August 2019, they are simply demanding the right to continue subjugating the minority community in Kashmir. This must never be allowed. Even granting statehood should be conditional on the safe return and resettlement of all Kashmiri Hindus in the Kashmir Valley. Their property must be returned to them, and peace must be established in the Union Territory before statehood is granted. Even then, police powers should be retained by the Centre till the danger of subversion by external agencies and internal actors is eliminated.
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