Sheeba
JK News Today
Srinagar, June 23:
The stage is set for the talks between the leaders of Jammu and Kashmir and the Centre at an all-party meet in New Delhi on Thursday , while the hopes are high but there also are some dark patches which reflect People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration ‘s self-inflicted wounds on its own credibility ahead of their meeting to be chaired by chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A wonderful opportunity for the leaders of Kashmir, especially that of the PAGD, to talk about the issues of the people with substantive facts and figures , is now in the danger of falling apart . The PAGD leaders have not shown any sensitivity towards the reconciliation with Delhi as they have chosen to talk in terms of the agenda of the separatists and the establishment of Pakistan. These forces do not want any reconciliation to come about between Delhi and Kashmir because that harms their own interests. The PAGD appears to be becoming a partner of these forces inimical to the interests of the people of Kashmir.
The people had expected , the leaders of National Conference and PDP , who are the main constituents of the PAGD, to air their grievances , which are more economic in nature and less about the extraneous politics that had wrecked their lives for decades.
The people in the streets of Kashmir spoke about their economic woes that have visited them due to the spell of lockdowns caused by the pandemic of the coronavirus . They expected that these mainstream leaders would frame an agenda that was people-centric and not that of the self-interests of the leaders and their families . They call themselves leaders of Kashmir, but they are agitating for something that is against the interests of the people.
“ Yes, we do want some political set up in Jammu and Kashmir to enable us to have the elected representatives who can air our grievances, but at the moment our first consideration is how to survive?,” said Amjid Dar , a resident of Srinagar and he added : “ we want economic relief ,” he said and hoped that these leaders would put their woes on the priority list.
These expectations of the people seem to have been lost in the PAGD agenda as its leaders are viewing things through single prism lens – restoration of Article 370 and Article 35 A .These provisions had made Jammu and Kashmir and its permanent residents privileged lot lot in pre-August 5, 2019, era , but at the end of the day worked against the interests of the masses as they were made to believe in their self-woven dreamland, far removed from the reality.
A thesis is at work that says that the people have suffered because of the August 5, 2019 moves of the Centre . This thesis is being propagated by the PAGD leaders to avoid their own accountability as to how much damage had they done to the erstwhile state and the residents.
The political privileges are hollow without the sound economy . And the abrogation of Article 370 made them equal to the rest of more than 1.3 billion people across the country . Other states and people are progressing without special rights and privileges that J&K had prior to August 5, 2019. The PAGD reinforcing the idea of inequality by pushing for the restoration of Article 370. It is undermining the capacity of the people of J&K to compete and excel in the equal word . Now their opportunities have widened and they have a bigger field to work on.
The people want no illusions but real time situations and fruits.
