Losing way, days after coming to power?

I seems fears of the sceptics about the survival of PDP-BJP alliance in Jammu and Kashmir have started to come true as the coalition government is being tested by its inherent contradictions. The manner in which controversial issues have been raked up and treated by the alliance partners since the formation of coalition government on March 1 has for now given its critics a reason to rejoice.

On various issues from the release and re-arrest of hardline separatist leader Masarat Alam Bhat to separate townships for Kashmiri Pandits, residency rights to the 1947 West Pakistan refugees, revoking AFSPA and Article 370 of the constitution, the PDP and the BJP are entirely on different pages.

The latest controversy over raising of pro-Pakistan slogans and flags at a rally in Srinagar last week, subsequent arrest of Masarat Alam and killing of a young protester in firing by security forces on the outskirts of Srinagar city last week has after a long time given separatists a chance to come out of hibernation and dominate the political scene of the Valley once again. It seems Kashmir is once again back to where it all began: Demand for azaadi, talk of plebiscite, anti-India rhetoric and anarchy on streets.

The 45-year-old Masrat, accused of waving Pakistani flag in Srinagar during a recent rally where he also allegedly raised anti-India slogan, is currently general secretary of the hardline Hurriyat Conference. He is being seen as a possible successor to octogenarian Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

Masrat, who was released last month on the orders of PDP patriarch and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, after spending more than four years in prison, is seen as the brain behind in triggering stone pelting agitations in the Valley. A former commander of now-defunct Hezbollah militant outfit, he shot into prominence for his role in leading 2010 summer uprising in Kashmir in which 120 protesters and bystanders were killed while dozens of government buildings and police stations were set on fire.

During the mayhem, he had launched the ‘Quit Kashmir Movement’, asking people to continue protests until azaadi (freedom) came to Kashmir. However, he was arrested in a meticulous operation by the police in October 2010. Immediately after his arrest, violence ebbed and life returned to normal in Kashmir. However, his release from the prison on March 7, this year, once again raised Valley temperatures to crescendo. At a rally in Srinagar, instead of reciprocating Mufti’s gesture, Masarat was busy rousing the crowd against his government and its partners in Delhi and praising Pakistan.

The rally was broadcast live in Muzzafarabad, capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir for the benefit of Geelani’s and Masarat’s intended audience which included Lashker-e-Toiba founder Hafiz Saeed. Before his re-arrest, Masarat defended his actions saying it wouldn’t deter them (separatists) from their goal. After Geelani’s speech, a large section of the youth raised slogans in favour of Masarat, asking him to take the stage. He then raised the slogan, “Kashmir banega”, as the youth responded with cries of “Pakistan”, Masarat shouted, “Jeevay, Jeevay Pakistan (long live Pakistan)”.

The release of Masarat had created a furore across the country and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to make a statement in parliament to pacify the opposition parties who cornered him over the issue. After recent anti-India rally, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had to call Mufti and ask him to put Masarat behind the bars.

Appeasing the separatists
In the last almost two months since the formation of the new government, both Modi and Rajnath had to intervene several times to resolve the differences with the state government as Mufti has been trying to appease the separatists from day one. Both Modi and Rajnath have been asserting that any lenience towards anti-national elements and terrorists will not be acceptable.

Under the circumstances, Mufti has an unenviable task to keep his new found ally - the BJP - in good humour which is an imperative for his government to survive. This is an uneasy relationship which even the two allies have repeatedly admitted. The manner in which Rajnath pushed Mufti to re-arrest Masarat will only add to this unease.

Though the PDP has rubbished allegations that the state government arrested Masarat following the Centre’s pressure, anger is seething on the streets of Srinagar against Mufti for ‘allowing’ New Delhi to ‘dictate’ terms to his government. People accuse the PDP patriarch of following his predecessor Omar Abdullah’s policy. Protesters on the streets of Srinagar allege that PDP and Mufti bowed before the BJP which wants to choke the voices of dissent in the Valley.

Many parts of the state steeped in backwardness, the coalition government needs to take proper, effective and firm steps to focus on governance and ensure equitable share to all irrespective of caste, religion and region in the matter of rehabilitation and development. The two alliance partners cannot escape the accusations of indulging in shadow boxing over crucial issues.

A semblance of normalcy had been achieved in the Kashmir Valley after a long toil by the security forces and local people who came in hordes to vote in the last year’s assembly elections despite boycott call by the separatists. Political parties of all hues need to refrain from building edifices of power over the sentiments of a community, region or religion.