Skip to main content

J&K Governor's rule: BJP's "failure" to go ahead with 44-plus strategy

By Syed Mujtaba Hussian*
Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) continues to witness cataclysm of events ever since the killing of editor-in-chief of “Rising Kashmir”, Shujaat Bukhari, followed by the BJP’s deliberated parting of ways with its coalition partner, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and imposition of Governor rule.
The recent release of report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights seem to have caused panic in the BJP camp. In its response, India’s Ministry of External affairs termed the report as fallacious, tendentious and motivated violating Indian sovereignty. Army Chief General Bipin Rawat slammed the United Nations report on alleged human rights violation in Kashmir dubbing it as “motivated”.
Reacting to the official response from India, UN human rights commissioner’s spokesperson Rupert Colville said that they were “deeply disappointed” by the reaction of the Indian authorities.
Meenakshi Ganguly (South Asia director, Human Rights Watch), while reacting to the report, said, India should welcome the UN report, and commit to act on its findings, including providing access to the UN human rights office.
As a first step it should seek a repeal of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act, as has been recommended by several international and Indian experts. It should order an investigation into alleged violations. Addressing grievances is what responsible governments are supposed to do. They don’t deny and blame the messenger. And they certainly don’t accuse the UN high commissioner for human rights of prejudice-, she said.
In the same back ground, the government banned over 30 channels in the valley, saying it had become necessary and expedient in the larger interest of public and maintenance of peace. Further Article 35-A (saving clause) is now subject to a constitutional challenge in the present petition by an NGO backed by BJP, before the Supreme Court.
Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman, Awami Action Committee, meanwhile, threatened that “any tinkering with the law will not be tolerated. It is a larger ploy to settle non-state subjects and dilute the identity of Kashmiris. We will occupy streets and mass agitation will be launched.” The Hurriyat leadership warned of mass agitation if any tinkering is allowed with the constitutional provision.
Former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti also told a rally in Srinagar that any tinkering with it would turn the state into a veritable inferno. The National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has also warned that his party won’t allow the Centre to fiddle with political status and honour of the people of J&K.
It has become a known fact that cases filled in the Supreme Court to challenge the demographic character of the state, have been done at the behest of BJP. It may be recalled that BJP had floated what was known as 44 plus strategy to come to power in the elections of 2014. Out of total of 87 seats of Kashmir, 46 are from the valley and 41 belong to Jammu Ladakh. The 44 plus strategy focused on Jammu, Ladakh and few seats in the valley. Now, when the BJP has direct control over Kashmir, it is trying to tackle the Kashmir situation in its own way, so that it can sell that during upcoming elections.
Kashmir has been used as an “experiment table” since last many decades.
The present status of Kashmir issue is a sombre reminder to the world that Kashmiri people are deprived of their fundamental rights. A muscle approach will make the things more worse, only proper dialogue can bring the peace in Kashmir.
---
*Human rights activist, observer of socio-political contexts of Jammu and Kashmir. Contact: jaan.aalam@gmail.com

Comments

TRENDING

'Very low rung in quality ladder': Critique of ICMR study on 'sudden deaths' post-2021

By Bhaskaran Raman*  Since about mid-2021, a new phenomenon of extreme concern has been observed throughout the world, including India : unexplained sudden deaths of seemingly healthy and active people, especially youngsters. In the recently concluded Navratri garba celebrations, an unprecedented number of young persons succumbed to heart attack deaths. After a long delay, ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research) has finally has published a case-control study on sudden deaths among Indians of age 18-45.

SC 'appears to foster' culture of secrecy, does not seek electoral bond details from SBI

By Rosamma Thomas*  In its order of November 2, 2023 on the case of Association for Democratic Reforms vs Union of India contesting constitutional validity of electoral bonds, the Supreme Court directed all political parties to give particulars of the bonds received by them in sealed covers to the Election Commission of India. SC sought that information be updated until September 2023. 

How national chauvinism 'overtook' sport despite cricketing glory of World Cup 2023

By Harsh Thakor*  The recently-concluded cricket World Cup was a testimony or manifestation of the thrills, intensity, twists and turns in sport and evolution of the game of cricket. It carried on the trend of the World Cups of yesteryears. Possibly, this was the best ever Indian team in a World Cup, and arguably amongst the best ever to contest a World Cup.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Only 12% of schools RTE compliant: Whither 6% budgetary allocation for education?

By Ambarish Rai* Despite Indian state’s commitment of 6% GDP on education, the Finance Minister completely ignored right to education for children and strengthening implementation of RTE Act which makes education a fundamental right in her budget speech . The Right to Education (RTE) Forum, which is a collective of different stakeholders in education, condemns this neglect of a legal entitlement, which is unconstitutional and demand for overall increase in the budget to ensure improvement in learning outcomes and overall enhancement of quality education.

Savarkar in Ahmedabad 'declared' two-nation theory in 1937, Jinnah followed 3 years later

By Our Representative One of the top freedom fighters whom BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi revere the most, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, was also a great supporter of the two nation theory for India, one for Hindus another for Muslims, claims a new expose on the man who is also known to be the original proponent of the concept of Hindutva.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

'Ambiguous policy': India late in advocating EVs as energy storage in national grid

By Shankar Sharma*  This is regarding the points raised by the Chief Electricity Authority’s (CEA's) advocacy for usage of electrical vehicles (EVs) as energy storage technology, and few associated issues . An objective reading of what he states should reiterate the enormously growing importance of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in our need to transition to a net-zero carbon scenario for the country.

Is India emulating west, 'using' anti-terror plank to justify state-supported violence?

Fahad Ahmad, Baljit Nagra*  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has accused India of being involved in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh leader, on Canadian soil. Narendra Modi’s right-wing Hindu nationalist Indian government is defiant and denies involvement. Indian officials have instead admonished Canada for being a “ safe haven ” for Sikh “terrorism,” a pejorative for Sikh self-determination .