JK News Today Special Commentary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two rallies in Srinagar and Katra on Thursday ahead of the second phase of the ongoing Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were notable for several reasons but one which stood out most among them was the terms in which he hailed high voter turnout in the first phase of polling on Wednesday. He complimented the voters for contributing in a big way to the country’s democracy .
This tribute to the voters who took part in the polling on Wednesday across two sides of the Pir Panjal range – Chenab Valley and south Kashmir recording an overall percentage of 61,11 – underlined a message that the people of J&K have embraced the integration of the land into the country through their vote . Prime Minister meant that the voters in Kashmir have demonstrated their faith in the Indian democracy and have become a core of it, validating the integrated measures that his government took in the past five years- which has become a period that reflects life in J&K after the abrogation of Article 370.
A reality check will show that the landscape in Kashmir has changed .
Till date, there was a talk of no shutdowns , heavy decline in terror incidents and an atmosphere in which tourists are happy to visit and holiday in Kashmir . This was a verbal presentation of the changing situation , highlighting an atmosphere in which people rediscovered meaning of normalcy which they had forgotten for almost for over three decades, when spells of violence and fear dominated the air and intruded into homes. The renewed version of normalcy was restricted to the change in lifestyle and uninterrupted economic activities . But a question lurked in background, as to what do the people feel all about the changes. There were individuals and groups speaking for it as they were biggest beneficiaries of the change, but the collective messaging was yet to be heard .
Two back to back polls- Lok Sabha elections followed by the historic Assembly elections – offered a grand opportunity to the people to express their view . They voted in large numbers in the Lok Sabha polls , showing that they wanted to travel into the new times, what has come to be described as “ Naya Kashmir” in terms of time and space .In the first of the three-phased Assembly polls , the voters across 24 constituencies – 16 in the four districts of south Kashmir , and three in the Chenab Valley -improved upon their own record of the Lok Sabha polls .
This is democratization of the landscape of Kashmir in the real sense of the word. This is rooted in the renewed psyche of Kashmir which wants to adopt to the change , shed stigmas of the past and embrace opportunities that future offers. They know that their vote will be counted and counted on the side they have voted, but the overall winner is democracy .
Practically speaking , it is the real change which will have bearing on future of J&K and its masses. A number of theories are at work. Political pundits are attributing it to their vote for restoration of statehood . There is a sense of paralysis and deep hurt among the people of J&K over two things – the bifurcation of their state into two union territories, though they acknowledge it grudgingly that Buddhists in Ladakh wanted Union. Territory for their land for the past over few decades , particularly since 1980s. More hurtful was the demotion of J&K from state to UT. The demand for the statehood is not just the change in title or status of J&K they wanted , but it is also a question of their identity for they haven’t reconciled to the fact that how a state could have been made a UT.
Well, the Government of India must have had some well-founded reasons to do so in August 2019, when it also scrapped Article 370 . The good news is that both Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah stand committed to their promise of restoring statehood to J&K. This vote will help them expedite the process. This is again a demonstration of the fact that vote can fulfill the aspirations . Ballots have already scored a victory over bullets though the final results would be out on October 8.
