SIKANDAR NOORANI
Abrogation of Article 370 from Indian Constitution by Modi government on 5th August 2019 must not be taken as an act of parliament as the matter carries a complex historical context about special autonomous special status of Kashmir as a state. What India as refers as document of accession of Kashmir, signed by Maharaja Hari Singh under mysterious circumstances, is nothing more than a bold act of superior forgery and fraud which was actually master minded and manifested by Congress under Nehru’s leadership. This ill intended move of a statesman still haunts the region even after decades.
While arguing in favor of revocation of much talked about Articles 370 and 35A of Indian constitution, Interior Minister and BJP’s firebrand leader Amit Shah termed it as a corrective measure to the mistake committed by Nehru seven decades back. Though, Congress opposed the BJP move against special status of Kashmir but in any way this party stance cannot be interpreted as a favorable gesture for Kashmiri masses. BJP and congress both consider Kashmir as integral part of India however the manifestation strategy differs on many accounts. As a statesman Nehru definitely committed a serious mistake by conspiring against millions of Kashmiris which resulted in decades long unrest, bloodshed and Indo-Pak wars. Time proved that Nehru’s decision was flawed and as a result of it today south Asia blinks red as nuclear flash point.
Majority of Kashmiri masses never accepted the so called accession and special status guaranteed through Articles 370 and 35A. Stage managed elections, toothless assemblies and puppet CMs badly failed in controlling the Kashmir as per the desires of decision makers sitting in real power corridors of India. Governor rule and ruthless application of state power could not help in substituting the puppet regimes and Kashmir still continues to pinch as a pain in neck for India. Who doesn’t know that BJP over run congress in political battlefield by fanning Hindutva rhetoric. Highly sensitive burning issues like Babri Mosque, Kashmir unrest, basic rights of religious minorities and Indo-Pak relations were dangerously exploited by BJP to hook and charm the voters. Gradually a highly aggressive narrative was built by
BJP’ warlords against the Muslims by keeping Pakistan and Kashmir in crosshair. What transpired today in Kashmir, through revocation of two articles, is the much expected outcome of BJP’s well thought out political strategy which primarily revolves around igniting the hateful sentiments on religious hatred. By finishing the special status of Kashmir, BJP actually fulfilled the promise made in her manifesto. Though, this move was never unexpected but its timing and offensive manifestation clearly reflect the hostile mentality of its originators. Jubilation in BJP circles is primarily aimed at projecting Modi and Amit Shah as ‘Conquerors of Kashmir’ , ‘Saviors of India’ and ‘Conquerors of Pakistan’ .
Criticism on Nehru from BJP leaders, amid revocation of Articles 370and 35 A, has actually proved to the whole world that India’s Kashmir policy stretched over seven decades was nothing but a pack of flawed statesmanship. Had it been correct or well-intended, today not only Kashmir rather whole south Asia would have been a much better, more peaceful and economically stable region than what it is today. Nehru’s strategy was flawed but comparatively lesser violent than BJP’s recent aggressive assault on autonomy of Kashmir. If a lesser aggressive policy could not win the hearts and minds of Kashmiri masses then how a more violent, brutal and absolutely non-political hate based strategy would succeed in controlling the Kashmir with a remote control operated from New Dehli. Debate on pros and cons of change of Kashmir’s constitutional status becomes absolutely irrelevant as Kashmiri masses had never accepted Indian constitution and the so called special status guaranteed under recently revoked articles 370 and 35A. Kashmiri demand for plebiscite cannot be neutralized by making constitutional jugglery in New Dehli.
Just to gain political mileage and to calm down the hateful sentiments of warlords’ cult , BJP made a populist move of declaring Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh as two Union Territories of India. This geographical division has united all Kashmir against Indian occupation as those handful of opportunist politicians who believed in Nehru’s flawed statesmanship eventually had to openly admit that trusting India was a mistake on part of their elders.
So in retaliation to BJP’s constitutional adventure the Kashmiris, irrespective of their political differences, stand united today on this very point that Kashmir has never been part of India by any standard. Complete lock down of Kashmir through uninterrupted curfew, illegal arrest of political leadership including ex puppet CMs and absolute cut of communication means have sufficiently proved the flaws of BJP’s one sided decision. This flawed decision on part of BJP seems much greater blunder than the one committed by Nehru seven decades back. Lack of political engagement, absolute denial of Kashmiri demands and ruthless violation of fundamental human rights are the major flaws of India’s Kashmir policy. These flaws existed since seven decades but BJP has enhanced the pace due to her obvious hateful anti Muslim mindset. Kashmiris have been cornered and pushed towards armed resistance. In the absence of political dialogue, Kashmiri youth got attracted towards freedom fighters like Burhan Wani and Zakir Musa. With BJP back in New Dehli power corridors second time with a new anti-Kashmir rhetoric, rise in armed resistance and public massacre in the hands of security forces is a writing on the wall. Though, Pakistan has always pledged to provide moral, legal and diplomatic support to Kashmiri masses in their righteous struggle but actions on ground have always proved short of the requirement.
Bitter fact of the day is that Pakistan, being the most relevant advocate of the oppressed Kashmiris, could neither fight the case appropriately nor project the real issue at international forums in a required manner. Onus of negligence falls flatly on all past rulers with no exception to elected or non- elected one. Ineffectiveness of forums like UNO and OIC in addressing the issues related to the Muslim sufferings need no further explanation. Kashmir issue gradually transformed in a humanitarian crisis and with recent BJP hateful vigor it is likely to take a more complex shape.
Any armed resistance in occupied Kashmir may not only restrict to the occupied territory. Spillover effects will not be manageable for both India and Pakistan. Failure of diplomatic channels and denial of fundamental human rights on gun point will surely provide easily exploitable ideas to those quarters who already have a tilt towards armed resistance on both sides of LoC. Since seven decades Kashmir has been continuously paying heavy price of the flawed statesmanship of Nehru and puppets like Shaikh Abdullah. Kashmir is suffering due to Indian state sponsored atrocities and diplomatic inaction of Pakistan. BJP has surely made a greater blunder in Kashmir than Nehru’s accession episode and today the whole region stands more than ever vulnerable to the grave consequences. Fortunately, Pakistan seems mending diplomatic flaws by resetting the course as significantly reflecting from recent address of Pak PM at UNGA. However, no positive outcome is possible without a quality change in policies of Indian decision makers playing with fire in New Dehli.
