Centre announcing new domicile law amid COVID-19 crisis sends political parties into tizzy  

  Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Apr 2: The Central Government announcing a new domicile law for Jammu and Kashmir amid COVID-19 outbreak seems to have sent the Kashmir based political parties into a tizzy.
National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, Apni Party and others have described the new domicile law announced by the Centre as a “half hearted” effort.
“It appears that Centre is in no mood to give these parties a chance to coin a slogan to seek votes from the people whenever the elections are held in the newly carved out Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” an analyst told Precious Kashmir.
He said the reaction of Kashmir based parties to new domicile law was on the expected lines. “These parties were hoping that the Centre would give them a chance to take credit but it has not happened,” he added.
An observer said, “Many politicians it looks like were not expecting the Centre to announce the domicile law in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. This has denied them the opportunity to beat the trumpet and sell it as their achievement.”
He said, “New Delhi is giving a clear message to Kashmir based leaders that they are no more a part of the decision making process. Their role in coming days is going to remain confined to governance only.”
He said, “The biggest deal which the leaders can strike with New Delhi is to get J&K’s statehood back. If Delhi decides to restore it before the elections are held in J&K then the political parties will have to look for other means to attract the voters.”
Another analyst said, “Post August 5, 2019, political scenario in Jammu and Kashmir has changed completely. The politicians, who had a say in Delhi’s Kashmir policy have been sidelined. It seems Kashmiri leaders too have realized that if they don’t toe the line they can end up in a soup. They are in no mood to annoy Delhi.”
He said, “It’s clear that new politics in Kashmir has to be based on Bijli, Sadak, Pani and other issues, which touch the skin of a common man. Ones who talk about the governance related issues will remain relevant, but the ones who will talk about history and the past may end up being turned irrelevant.”
The analyst said, “At present everyone is worried about fighting COVID-19 but once this virus subsides, political parties will become active again to seek recognition and to make people believe that they only can bring the change.”