By Shivang Satya Gupta
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jammu and Kashmir is buzzing with political activities nearly after a decade, a period which saw its statehood and special status gone, with the region all set to witness Assembly Elections in 3 phases commencing on 18 September. Various political parties have come out with their manifestos to lure over 88 lakh voters who are going to exercise their franchise to elect the first Government in J&K UT to be led by a Chief Minister and his Cabinet.
J&K NC, J&K PDP and J&K Apni Party are among the major players who have come up with their manifestos, while national political parties including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress (INC) are yet to unveil their manifestos exclusively for J&K.
At this crucial juncture, it is imperative to read between the lines of all these manifestos, for a decisively better and secure future of this land. Various parties came up with different roadmaps to change the developmental and political landscape of J&K which is without an elected government for last six years now.
The grand-old regional party—National Conference has come up with a vision to reverse the post Article 370 scenario and also talked about the restoration of special status to J&K, leading to a sharp retaliation from the Union Home Minister Amit Shah who put up a pointer towards the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Rahul Gandhi whether the Congress party endorsed the promises made by the NC in their manifestos as both the parties are contesting the much awaited J&K Assembly election in a pre-poll alliance. The manifestos of PDP and Apni Party have their own promises, unique to them.
The larger picture that emerged after the analysis of manifestos showed that all the regional parties ignored the aspirations of common man and only few things were incorporated in their respective manifestos which merely proved to be ‘poll planks’ to attract the voters.
It also shows that the manifestos were drafted in a closed door meeting by such people who have no connection with the masses on the ground.
It is disheartening to observe that the manifestos, instead of resonating across the aspirations and issues pertaining to the common man were largely reflecting the demands rooted in political manoeuvring rather than a genuine commitment to the holistic welfare of the J&K people. Moreover, the roadmap of parties to deliver on ground is missing in the manifestos and it reflected that parties are demanding first before delivering after coming to power.
These parties must understand that any attempt to befool the youth in terms of jobs and other employment opportunities, which accounted for 60% voters across J&K, this time will prove to be counterproductive for them. The parties have to do their homework in a very concrete manner to make provisions for the allocations of funds for jobs in UT.
All three Kashmir-based parties committed to restore the Statehood to J&K after coming to power in Union Territory. This is however, just a formality to be completed after the formation of a popular Government in J&K as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have talked about doing the same, at many occasions in the past.
Moreover, it is imperative for the political leaders to understand that simply wooing the voters with mere slogans this time– who have watched the political activities very minutely over the past years- will not help them meet their goals, unlike the past when they played various political gimmicks to befool the voters for their political gains.
As in the past, the Kashmir-based parties have again tried to ignore or provide minimal space to the issues of Jammu region in their poll promises document which cannot be taken lightly as the seats of Jammu region has reached to 43 as compared to 47 seats of Kashmir.
The parties have to understand that the future of J&K depends on the ability of the leaders to foster an inclusive political dialogue that transcends old divides, embraces the diversity and richness across the 2 divisions of the erstwhile State of J&K.
Political parties including national and regional and must step up, listen to the voices of the people, and put forth a vision that truly serve the needs of all, instead of sensing the nerve and echoing the hypothetical and fictional promises and manipulating people while ignoring the basic needs of people of J&K.
Keeping all the points in mind, the voters must have to be remain extra vigilant and not fall in the trap to the hoodwinking approach of political parties during this election period. They must cast their vote for a vision in forthcoming Assembly Election 2024 that unites the people across the both ends of Jawahar Tunnel and a vision which serves best for the greater good of J&K.
