The emergence of the BJP, political face of the Sangh Parivar, as the main opposition in Jammu has the ominous portent of further strengthening the existing communal polarisation apart from the regional divide caused during the Amarnath yatra related agitation which had left its trail behind. The saffron party not only bagged as many as 11 seats in the Hindu-majority areas of the region but also managed to have significant increase in its share of votes. Though one of the reasons for the party’s success was the division of the secular votes with large number of candidates in the fray and infighting within the Congress, which alone was in a position to meet its challenge, it was the communal polarisation created during the agitation that paid it much dividend. Apart from the communal card the BJP also tried to exploit the question of alleged discrimination with Jammu to win the people’s support in the region. At a time when there was need to demolish the walls of distrust between the communities and regions the election has been a catalyst for further strengthening the communal and regional gulf. In the past the ruling parties, particularly the Congress and National Conference, had adopted a policy of appeasement of the communal forces both to buy peace and to weaken the secular democratic opposition keeping in view their narrow political considerations. In case of the formation of a National Conference-Congress coalition the BJP will naturally assume the role of the major opposition party in Jammu region and the PDP in Kashmir. There are frightening prospects of the perpetuation of the already existing regional and communal polarisation in the State. This poses a serious challenge to all those who are interested in communal amity and the unity and integrity of the State. Much of the responsibility to face this challenge lies on the new government which is likely to assume office in next few days though other secular democratic forces outside the ruling establishments too have to play their role in this regard.
Having tasted the blood, the communal forces are bound to intensify their campaign for creating a regional/communal divide in the State to satisfy their appetite and achieve their objective of a communal division of the State. It’s for the secular democratic parties and forces to rise above narrow partisan considerations, unmindful of their short-term gains, to unitedly meet this challenge. They must forget their petty difference and join hands for launching an ideological battle to expose the real character of the communal elements and mobilize the people against their nefarious designs. The attempts to whip up regional passions aimed at dividing the State can be frustrated by positive action on the part of those assuming the reins of office. That there are discriminations at various levels cannot be denied. It is the present system of governance that provides causes of discrimination and instead of refusing to accept the reality of such discrimination there is need to remove the causes. A centralized system of governance, particularly in the state with vast diversities, is bound to lead to a sense of deprivation and neglect among the people in various regions and areas. The only way to remove any misgivings and sources of exploitation for accentuating intra-regional tensions is to evolve a system of governance which can ensure equitable sense of participation both at the decision making and implementation level in the affairs of the state to people living in all the areas and regions of the State and belonging to different communities. A truly decentralized system with adequate power and authority at its different tiers like the state, regions, districts, blocks and panchayats is the only way out. Unfortunately, such a system has not been evolved by those in power during the past 60 years. Instead od decentralizing political, economic and administrative powers and authority a highly centralised system with powers concentrated in few hands has been perpetuated. It is this very system that breeds discrimination and a sense of deprivation at various levels.
The new government, one hopes, will initiate necessary steps without much delay to transform the present centralized system of polity and governance into a genuine democratically decentralized system for providing equitable sense of participation to all the citizens of the State. For this purpose, the State Constitution needs to be amended to provide for a five-tier system. Such an instituionalised framework will go a long way in removing all complaints of discrimination and neglect at different levels and ensuring equitable development. All the three major political parties-NC, Congress and PDP – are committed to the concept of federalism and are in a position to evolve a federal set up in place of the present centralized system of governance.
(Kashmir Times Editorial, December 31, 2008)
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