Editorial

PDP and BJP: Marriage of Convenience or Emerging Inconvenience

By The Editor

It is said that opposites attract but the political matrimonial of two diametrically opposite organizations is rarely heard. Even before the PDP chief took office, there are bets among people on how long this gastric trouble inducing alliance will last. From unfurling Kashmir’s state flag to exculpating Mastrat Alam, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed showed every intention of having his own way in running the most controversial state of the nation and BJP is having a hard time explaining themselves and their partners in power.

 Masrat Alam’s release came seriously close to rocking the boat but the question arises is where will be the line drawn in the sand.  PDP has its own vision for Kashmir which differs radically from what rest of the country see’s it and their softening stand on separatists puts the whole common minimum program into question. The state’s tumultuous past has been part of national psyche right from the independence. From spilled blood of soldiers to terrorist acts committed in the name of independence, Indians are far too involved now to back down. Another crucial factor is the recent entry of BJP in the political arena of Kashmir; hopes are from saffron party’s to represent or perhaps restore the place of Kashmiri Hindus who hardly had any say until now. This delicate balance of expectation and exceptions have to be tread carefully, particularly when PM Modi threw his own political weight to make an impossible equation work.

 Another incomprehensible fact is PDP and Hurriyat’s infatuation with Pakistan. It’s a catch 22 situation, India don’t want anything to do with Pakistan on Kashmir matters but groups like PDP and Hurriyat won’t go ahead without Pakistan in picture and Pakistan, well they always do what they do best, spreading instability & terror. The result, stifled growth, unemployment, lack of development and heightened tensions in terms of order and security. But logic doesn’t go hand in hand with politics all the time. It’s the ordinary Kashmiri’s that pay the price with their future and security.

But there is an irony by call it fate or destiny, for the valley we call heaven on earth had seen hell for decades and future also don’t bring any major shifts in the environment. The most beautiful scenic pastures ran red with blood, the calm of the dal lake is even out by bitterness in the air. Though the militancy of bygone days has ebbed away but the old wounds won’t be healing anytime sooner. Political parties had to realize that if problems wouldn’t be solved by ballot, solutions would be sought by bullets and nobody wants that.

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