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| Is Kashmir reading itself to a "summer of discontent" ? | | 
By Rigzin Jora
By their own admission the PDP and the BJP are poles apart in their ideologies. Parties win mandate on the basis of their manifestos which are broadly in tune with their ideology . It was , therefore, surprising when the PDP - BJP alliance was projected as as alliance of " conviction " rather than convenience . There is nothing wrong in alliance of convenience.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee led an alliance of 24 or more parties with no common ideological underpinnings. So also V P Singh, who took immense pride in managing contradictions . Mufti Sayeed who served as Home Minister should know better . There is no shame attached to it . Problem arises when convenience is projected as conviction . Conviction stems from value system . Collection of those values which includes faith and belief; outlook and perspective constitute ideology .The PDP - BJP erred in mistaking this alliance as one of conviction and making everyone else believe . Hence , confusion amongst themselves as well as among the general masses .
For, expectations from such alliance is far more than can actually be delivered .
What has plagued this government is a result of such confusion. It could have been far more realistic and honest to have declared this as an alliance of convenience. This would have spared them both everyday embarrassment and public spectacle. Such an alliance would have clearly demarcated red lines which the two parties would not cross to stick together. That ,it is not so , is evident . What is more evident is PDP trying to hoodwink its partner .
It began from day one when Mufti Sayeed chose to express his appreciation to people across the border, the separatist and the Hurriyat. This raised the heckles of the entire nation. There was condemnation all around . Red faced BJP , in particular, Prime Minister , was put to huge embarrassment . As if this wasn't enough , Mufti Sayeed chose to rub salt in the wounds by releasing Masrat Alam in a bid to try the patience of its coalition partner . There was massive uproar in the Parliament leading to the Prime Minister declaring zero tolerance to terrorism.
Next , BJP tried to pull a fast one over PDP by proposing composite township for Kashmir pandits in the valley. Mufti Sayeed agreed to the Home Minister's proposal and offered 500 kanals of land , only to come back and declare on the floor of the assembly that this is undesirable and he would not implement .
The latest controversy in allowing Masrat Alam & Co to hold a reception rally for Sayeed Ali Shah Geelani , where pro -Pak slogan were raised and Pakistan flag were waived , had the Home Minister squirming. This was followed by Mirwaiz 's rally. It took BJP 48 hours to regain its composure , and have action initiated against the culprits .
BJP's problem is that it does not have anyone in the cabinet who can match Mufti Sayeed 's wits and experience . Except for Lal Singh , rest are all greenhorns. Lal Singh , being what he is - fire and brimstone - not much can be expected from him. As a result, PDP is monopolizing the government and exploiting BJP's inexperience to the hilt. BJP finds itself in an unenviable position . It cannot do without PDP. Nor, can it do with PDP .This is the price BJP is paying for its muddled policy on Jammu and Kashmir. BJP can't fault PDP much.
Engaging the separatist is part of the common minimum programme . What can be faulted is the timing and the manner in which it is being done. Rather than engaging with the separatist with a proper agenda , either formally , through a structured dialogue , or ,through back channels , what is being done is allowing them to run riot in the name of giving them democratic space . In the process the separatist get a new lease of life . What has been witnessed in the valley in the last two days is revival and renewal of large scale anti - national activities.
Seen in the backdrop of increasing acts of militancy, it does not augur well for the state . Nor does it augur well for BJP's politics. Both within the state as well as outside. Jammu , which is their core constituency ,is seething with rage at BJP's complete surrender and its helplessness. Elsewhere , this is likely to impact BJP 's electoral prospects,specially in Bihar election , where BJP is finding itself challenged by the collective might of Nitish and Lalu in their new avatar as Janta Dal United .
Nitish Kumar has already started questioning BJP . The rest of the country, who have suffered unending sabre rattles of BJP as sole custodian of national interest, integrity and security of the nation , is aghast at the taming of the BJP by PDP. BJP is being seen as compromising its core national interest at the altar of power and pelf, and as greedy and lustful. Prime Minister 's macho image of a doer and a decisive leader is being pulverized by the cunning of Mufti Sayeed .
The common programme can at best be termed as convoluted minimum programme as Kashmir is reading itself to a Summer of Discontent .
(The author is the leader of congress legislature party and former senior minister in Jammu and Kashmir)
(Opinions expressed in write-ups/articles/Letters are the sole responsibility of the authors and they may not represent the Scoop News)
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