Election Without An Issue

It may not be so elsewhere in the country , for the voter in Jammu and Kashmir it will be an issue
less election . The election we talk about is the one that is underway across the country - that is to
constitute the 17th Lok Sabha . That in turn will decide who and which political conglomerate will
lord us over for the next five years .

To many may , an election without any issue will sound a contradiction in terms - akin to a fight
without a cause . In ordinary sense of the term many issues –some real and many imaginary will be
seyt up . All of them will carry a very local flavor when sought to put together they will mean nothing
. For instance ,

In Kashmir Valley Articles 370 , 35 A , autonomy , self rule , human rights violations , achievable
nation hood and host of others will be raked up by the contesting parties like N C , PDP and PC . In
Jammu region , especially in plains “ hard nationalism “, regional imbalance , plight of WP refuges and
POK displaced will come up . Ladakh , particularly Leh area will resonate will political battle cry of
‘Union Territory Status and severance of all administrative connection with the Valley . Kargil people
may have entirely different set of demands and aspirations , in no way sync with those of Leh . Seen
together every single item will cancel the other , depending upon the place the issue has come up . With
the result we won’t be having pan J & K issue to contest the election on . Effectively that will render
the process an issueless exercise .

It is general trend that Parliamentary Elections do not enthuse voters as much as the one meant to
form a state government . Delhi from any corner in the country looks a farthest place . For J & K ,
Delhi Hanuz Dur Aast Seen from places in Kishtwar and Kupwara the distance becomes so
pronounced as to lessen the enthusiasm of a local voter in the exercise . Local s feel that a
Parliamentary election is for the resolution of national issues only . That , however is not true . A
national issue is nothing but a sum total of the local issues . Concerns of safety , security , bread and
butter are as local as indeed they are national issues .

This election should provide us an opportunity to reflect upon how much we have lost in the past three
decades of death and mayhem ,without getting anything in the bargain . J &K is now talked only as a
war theater where successes are calibrated by counting deaths . Number of human causalities defines
normalcy and nit the absolute silence of the gun and smell of gunpowder, not the spring fragrance -
describes the atmosphere . For all other human parameters we the residents of state have been ire
relevant

It is therefore time we think of ways and means to become relevant again . Indian state has not
deterred to act to act in a way it thought for . The best way to have presence felt is the participation in
the electoral politics . It is heartening to note that this time people in Kashmir have shed diffidence and
young ,old and the middle-aged belonging to various segments of the society are in electoral fray .

What is heartening is that fact that many a young boys and girls are showing keen interest in
mainstream politics , Be it a once IAS topper or an American educated Mayor of Srinagar City or
businessmen /women are actively participating in democratic process . They have been exhorting the
people in Kashmir to come out and cast vote . Well meaning people are telling the telling the gun
wielding actore to cease fire so that people can come out and vote without fear or favor .

People in the state may feel political wronged but , as we have seen , bullet cannot right it . Ballot is the
instrument employed to correct the wrong .

IT is opportunity to show the party interlopers ,interchangeable and the Ayarams a lesson

For the Indian state it is moment of truth . While armed résistance has failed in THE state , the gun
yielded by the state too has not been a success story . It may have softened the hard core terrorists
but the sentiment still lingers n mind and psyche of good numbers in the VALLEY . GOI must visibly
show a real concern and respond positively once the ongoing electoral business is over .

Make it a big electoral issue ,

This election may be an issue less when but it will generate immense interest . And once over it will
reincarnate so many . Addressing them will indeed be a huge task.

B L SARAF

Former Principal District & Sessions Judge