Five years have passed since abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A, bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir and downsizing of it to two union territories. Much water has flown down the river Jehlum during these. Jammu and Kashmir has seen many ups and downs during this period. The positive development that is visible is the absence of, what used to be routine, protests and strikes, street violence and subsequently almost an end to everyday civilian killings and injuries. There are no more pellet victims and that has given a big relief to the people of J&K particularly those living in the Valley. However, though the Valley is witnessing calm, the Jammu region has witnessed deadly encounters claiming the lives of so many army personnel besides fatal attacks on civilians. Though the police and other security agencies seem in full control of the situation having an upper hand, the rise in terror attacks in Jammu region continues to pose a great challenge and can’t be tackled with operational capabilities only. Involvement of the locals is key to tackle the situation and here the major role is to be played by the J&K Police who have more contacts with the public.
On political front, despite the fact that the UT administration is busy working for the overall development of J&K and has been taking several steps to better the lives of people here, a democratic government, elected freely and fairly by the people, is the only way to make the citizens realize that they are part of the existing system. Jammu and Kashmir is without an elected government from past six years and this is not justifiable under any circumstances. Why elected governments are referred to as popular governments? It is because, here people, the ordinary citizens decide who should run the affairs of their government. They repose their trust in such representatives by voting for them. They develop a connection with them and these elected people too are easily accessible to them to listen to their issues and grievances. Intension is not to belittle a bureaucratic system but the point is that had such a system been an ideal one, every state in India would be run by Baboos only.
It is therefore necessary that the powers, that be, wake up to the political realities of Jammu and Kashmir and move ahead to restore democratic and popular system of governance here. The record number of people who voting in LokSabha elections is an indication that people want to be heard. Need is to understand the peoples’ urge to have their own representatives at the helm of affairs and respect that urge. Six years is a very long time and people can’t be denied what their own constitution promises them.
