The ugly face of self-centred politics and vested interests must be exposed
Jaibans Singh
The Srinagar parliamentary constituency seat fell vacant because the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP), Tariq Hameed Karra, of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) fell out with his party chief, Mehbooba Mufti, and joined the Congress. One would have appreciated his act of leaving his parent organisation on ideological grounds if he had decided to serve people as an independent, but no, he immediately joined a rival political party that he had openly opposed for decades no end.
So here was Mr Karra endorsing the candidature of an ally of the Congress, Farooq Abdullah, who was his biggest political adversary and whom he had defeated in the same constituency about two years back. In the earlier elections, Karra told the people that he was saving them from a demon, now, he was enthusiastically handing them back to the same demon.
The second candidate in the fray, Nazir Ahmed Khan, has an equally chequered history. He is a recent turncoat from the Congress to the PDP. Nothing more needs to be said about his acts of omission and commission.
Under such terribly immoral and dishonest circumstances, who in his right mind would expect the voters of Srinagar to risk their lives and come out to vote for such opportunistic political leaders?
Therefore, the low voter turnout should have been expected and should be seen as a triumph of democracy where the people have taught their recalcitrant leaders a lesson. It is by no means a rejection of the democratic process as is being said in some circles. It has, in fact, strengthened democracy.
The death of eight young protesters in the riots and mob attacks that took place in the wake of the elections is an unfortunate incident that needs a deeper analysis.
The moot question is—why would anybody come out to attack the security forces during a wholly redundant election?
Sadly, the boys who indulged in rioting and stone pelting, being very young, did not fully understand the political scenario. They got swayed by the separatist desperation to use the event as a platform to create mayhem and draw attention towards themselves. This is yet another example of the disgusting politics of opportunism that plagues the Kashmir Valley.
The reality is that a few powerful families and foreign sponsored forces in Kashmir are embroiled in a do or die battle to gain political supremacy. They are ruthlessly pursuing their ambition, without caring for the welfare of their people and the future of the growing generations. All that they can see is their bloated egos and even more bloated aspirations. There is no mainstream or separatist politics in Kashmir. The only politics being played out by the local leaders of the area is the politics of opportunism.
Now with the army presence having been reduced, the space thus created has been taken over by the radical
elements. The reduction was done on the advice of the same local leaders who are unable to control the situation today. The elders in Kashmir need to introspect and decide for themselves whether their sons are following the right path.
It may be a good idea to reach out to a common man in Kashmir and discuss the actual dangers and challenges they are facing. The ugly face of self-centred politics and vested interests needs to be exposed.
(The writer is a reputed analyst, author, and columnist)
