Credit goes to Modi govt for bringing peace in Kashmir

(Source - X)

Not enough credit has been given to the BJP for stabilising the law and order situation in Kashmir. It is the great achievement of the Modi government that people are participating in general elections. Pulwama is one such example. During the previous general elections, only one percent of eligible voters caste their votes. During the 2024 general election, the militancy-infected area has already seen its voting percentage rise upto 36 percent. The elections in other parts take place smoothly, but Kashmir valley always poses a challenge.

The separatists in the past openly gave the calls for boycotting the elections. There is no doubt elections in Kashmir were rigged in 1987, but that was an exception, not a rule. The elections in India are known for their fairness. The winners and losers accept the election result as a mandate from the public. The Islamic separatists in Kashmir are backed by the Pakistani establishment wanting to prove that they are real representatives of the people and no Kashmiri will vote in the elections on their call. The BJP has strictly dealt with all those troublemakers. Most separatists and sympathisers of militancy have been put behind bars. Investigating agencies also checked the source of their illegal income. 

Due to the efforts made by the Modi government, for the first time in the last three decades, no outfit or individual has given a call to boycott the elections. The Kashmiris also realized that conducting the election in Kashmir is not India’s weakness, it is the strength of the Indian system that benefits people as well. Not conducting elections would not impact the governance in any manner, such is the structure of Indian polity. The source of authority for making crucial decisions is generally provincial leadership. If people don’t vote, it does not advance the goal of separatists in any way, and confident govt at the center, can easily manage the state through the governor. The separatists in Kashmir underestimated the strength of the Indian constitution to maintain the territorial unity and integrity of the government. 

The Kashmiris have now realized that separatist politics has already run its course. And common people are the biggest losers of widespread violence and security crackdown on armed militants. The future of Kashmir lies in the future of India. It is in their interest that they use democracy in India to participate in mainstream society and contribute to nation-building. The whole world is watching how political parties are openly campaigning in Kashmir, and people are rallying behind their favorite candidates. The Election Commission has also strategically decided to conduct the polls of all five seats in Kashmir in five different phases so that leaders of major parties and their star campaigners could participate in the election campaign. 

The abrogation of Article 370 paved the way for full territorial, cultural, and constitutional unification of Kashmir valley with India. Now, Kashmir is part of India, just like Delhi or Uttar Pradesh. The crackdown on separatists, dismissal of the state government, and postponing of assembly elections were a wake-up call for Kashmiris. Modi govt can easily maintain peace in Kashmir and run the government through the governor; the misleading view of boycotting elections will hamper the ability of Kashmiris to make decisions on crucial mentioned in the state list of the constitutions. The quasi-federal constitution of India divides the power between union and state govt, and also maintains the concurrent list. The items mentioned in the state list are the domain of state government elected through legislative assembly elections. If there will be no elections, the governor and the state bureaucracy will continue to make the decisions. The reach, impact, and ability of govt to maintain its hold in the area will not be jeopardized in any way. 

The changed atmosphere in Kashmir depends on the BJP’s ability to deal with troubles strictly. Any concession to separatist tendencies is neither in the long-term interest of Kashmiris nor in the interests of hard-earned peace in the valley. 

[Mukesh Devrari]