Omkar Dattatray
Centre’s rule or Governor’s rule is a stop-gap arrangement and as such cannot last for a long time in a democracy. People’s Government is the only option in a democracy and as such the political process should be initiated for restoring the people’s government. It is so good that BJP government has set the ball rolling for start of much-needed political process in J&K. The various political parties were demanding initiation of the talks for the initiation of the dialogue and talks for restoring statehood to the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir. The centre has not talked to Jammu & Kashmir leaders post 2019 reorganisation of the state by the central parliament. Now the centre government has invited 14 political leaders of the Jammu & Kashmir for talks and in this connection the centre government has formed a committee under the chairmanship of Home Minister Amit Shah to invite the political leaders of Jammu & Kashmir for talks. The fact is that there is no other way than the holding of the talks and deliberations for resolving the problems in Jammu & Kashmir and therefore the political leaders should without any hitch take part in the dialogue process with the centre government as it is the only way to put an end to the stalemate in Jammu & Kashmir. Since there is no peoples’ government in office in Jammu & Kashmir from 2019 and as such there is dire need for a peoples government in Jammu & Kashmir. The centre has convened an all party meeting of the political leaders of Jammu & Kashmir and 14 leaders have been invited for talks before the initiation of the much stalled political process and it is a good augury for the erstwhile state. The political leaders of the erstwhile state should take the opportunity to take part in the talks. As of now it is not clear if the political leaders of various political parties will take part in the dialogue process before the start of the political process. There is no fixed agenda for the talks and the centre government wants to hold the dialogue with the leaders of the political parties ahead of the political process. In a democracy the electing of the peoples representatives is the only way forward and thus there cannot be any compromise on this issue. Therefore talks should be held with the various stakeholders of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir and therefore the political leaders of various political parties should take active part in the talks with the centre government to usher in true democracy in Jammu & Kashmir. For this, there is no alternative to dialogue and deliberations and such the political leaders should take part in the talks with the centre government so that political process will be commenced at the earliest as this is the only way forward in a democracy as all differences can be sorted out by dialogue. The centre is eager to hold the elections in Jammu & Kashmir and the political parties should take part in the talks in the interest of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. In fact the political leaders of various political parties should take the bull by the horns and take part in the much needed dialogue to break the stalemate in the talks. As the centre government has made it clear that it wants early elections and as such the talks should be held before the holding of the elections in the disturbed Jammu & Kashmir. The indifferent and reluctant approach should not be there on the part of the political parties as the people of Jammu & Kashmir want democratic process to start at an earliest and the political leaders should without wasting time to plunge in the talks with the centre for the restoration of democracy in Jammu & Kashmir. Thus, for the sake of democracy the political process should gain momentum as it is the only way to go forward in a democratic set up. This is the first time since the centre has abrogated the controversial Article 370 of the constitution of India and the consequent bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir. The centre government is going to convene a meeting of the political parties under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister on 24th June and it has to be seen will the political leaders take part in the much needed dialogue and give a green signal to the democratic process. The political parties want to discuss the subject of taking part in the talks with the centre government with the party leaders before taking part in the talks with the centre government. The convening of the meeting of the political leaders of Jammu & Kashmir is a welcome and positive development and the political leaders of the various should go for talks and not be reluctant in this regard as the dialogue and deliberations is the only sane way to discuss any issue in a democracy. In fact the dialogue and talks will help in the initiation of the stalled political process in the Jammu & Kashmir to usher in the true democracy in the disturbed Jammu & Kashmir. Since the centre has set the ball rolling and now it is the turn of the political parties to take part in the talks with the centre to break the deadlock and set the tone for the start of democratic exercise in the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir. Thus we can hopefully chant long live the democracy.