Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Oct 15: The government ordering release of Peoples Democratic Party chief and former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti after 14-months has once again brought politicians from Kashmir together.
“The question that most people are asking is will these politicians coming together make any difference now? When they could have done something collectively at that point of time they were unable to even stand the sight of each other. After J&K losing everything them joining hands hardly makes any difference,” an analyst told Precious Kashmir.
He said, “When these politicians ruled J&K they had the power to strike any deal with the Centre as on date that advantage has been lost. They are as good as common people and are in no position to bargain any sort of arrangement with New Delhi.”
An observer said, “The Gupkar Declaration, which these parties are talking about, could have served some purpose had our leaders been in a position to enter into some sort of parleys with New Delhi. At present the Centre seems in no mood to talk to the Valley based leaders.”
He said that National Conference president and Member Parliament Dr Farooq Abdullah recently in an interview admitted that he was not allowed to talk about Centre’s August 5, 2019 decision in the recently held Parliament session. “Kashmiri leaders making noise in the Valley won’t help their cause. If they really want to get something back even J&K’s statehood then they will have to reach out to the Centre. Holding meetings and issuing statements in Srinagar looks more like a formality aimed at sending a message that political parties in Kashmir are still relevant,” the observer added.
Another analyst said, “Mehbooba Mufti’s release can boost the revival of the political process in Kashmir but there is a possibility about the move back firing. If the Kashmiri leaders just keep on talking about everything back, the government can once again tighten the noose around them. So it’s a tight rope walks for them.”
He said, “In the newly carved out Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir role of the elected politicians has been curtailed. If the assembly elections are held without the restoration of J&K’s special status the politicians will have no major role, the Lieutenant Governor will be the boss and his decision will be final. Kashmiri leaders have to choose whether to fight for restoration of statehood or to fight for getting everything back.”
