JAMMU: The word ‘mainstream’ is the most used and abused word in the Kashmir Valley. The term betrays all the definitions of the global dictionaries when used for a particular political class, which is construed as pro-India and anti-separatist amalgam of the political parties, believing in electoral politics.
‘Mainstream’ is used for those of the political class that takes turns in forming governments and once out of it, talk more bitterly against the nation and all its institutions, especially security forces, when out of power. The mainstream parties are actually Kashmir-centric outfits and their Jammu extensions are just bunches of factotums, who themselves are clueless as to who they were.
Unfortunate and ironical part of the Kashmir mainstream tale is that the Centre, no matter who governs the country, takes them on face value and are thus indispensable for any political arrangement. The Kashmir Desk in New Delhi has been using the Kashmir mainstream for its experiments in the political lab of the Valley, knowing well that it is a substance that has lost all its value. However, the ruling political executives find themselves in a fix while tackling Kashmir. They get drawn towards this clan whenever the so-called ice is to be broken in the ‘complex and murky politics of Kashmir, which is murkier than the polluted waters of the Dal lake.
The classic example of Kashmir mainstream came from none other than the former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, who told a veteran TV anchor Karan Thappar on 24 September 2020, “Today Kashmiris do not feel Indian and do not want to be Indian … They are slaves … They would rather have the Chinese rule them…” He even reportedly hoped for the restoration of Article 370 with the blessings of China.
Another former Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, who gets elated on being called ‘fire-brand’, threatened the Centre in April 2019, four months ahead of abrogation of Article 370,.
“If you free Jammu and Kashmir from Article 370, you will free the state from the country as well. I have said many times that Article 370 links J&K with the country. When you break this bridge, India loses its legitimacy over the state. It becomes an occupational force”. ..”So my warning to the BJP is to stop playing with fire. There are explosives in Jammu and Kashmir. If you light a spark, everything will go up in flames… there will be no Jammu and Kashmir or India left….nobody will be Tiranga bearer in the Valley etc”.
Similarly, the other so-called mainstream leaders have been dictating their terms to the Government of India for tackling the political process in J&K, say Kashmir, which doesn’t want any compromise on its hegemony over the other region-the nationalist Jammu. Omar Abdullah threatens to stay away from the elections unless ‘complete statehood’ is granted to Jammu and Kashmir’. Other leaders like Sajjad Lone of Peoples Conference, Mohammed Yousf Tarigami of CPI (M), Altaf Bukhari of J&K Apni Party and others are no different. They never conceal their love lost for terrorists, who they call ‘misguided youth’. They will never condemn the martyrdom of the policemen or security forces, who offer their supreme sacrifices in saving Kashmir from the tentacles of Pak sponsored Jihadis. This happened brazenly during the gruesome terror incident in Pulwama.
Despite their love for India bashers, one fails to understand how the Centre calls these leaders as mainstream politicians and rolls out red carpets for them from time to time. Their love for the enemy and hate for the country is no secret. In fact, they want the world to know all this to find relevance for themselves, both among the radicalised population and the global players against Indian interest. Is the support to those killing of innocent, issuing statements against the country and demonstrating love for the countries inimical to the interests of India main characteristic of mainstreamism?