MASROOR AHMAD
SRINAGAR: The National Conference-Congress alliance, which is all set to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir will have to carefully negotiate governance challenges as key areas of administration, such as police and public order are assigned to the Lieutenant Governor.
As per the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 that split the former State into two Union Territories – J&K and Ladakh, the J&K Legislative Assembly may enact laws with respect to any of the matters mentioned in the Concurrent List and State List, excluding police and public order, in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The biggest challenge before the new government would be to bridge the deep political divides between the Jammu region and Kashmir Valley- as unfolded by the just concluded Assembly elections. Another key issue before the new government would be to maintain cordial working relationship with the Lieutenant Governor and avoid situations that Delhi’s elected government headed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and its Lieutenant Governor were caught up in. Recently, the Centre vested more powers in the UT’s Lt. Governor for taking decisions including matters related to police and all-India service officers. Omar Abdullah, while thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for complimenting the NC over its “commendable” performance in the J&K assembly elections, had said that he looked forward to “a constructive relationship in the true spirit of federalism so that the people of J&K may benefit from continued development and good governance”. The BJP has won 29 of the 43 Assembly seats-all in the Jammu region- whereas it failed to make any mark in the Kashmir Valley. For Omar Abdullah and his government, it would be an uphill task to create a sense of belonging among the vast sections of population who voted for the BJP in this election The NC-Congress combine’s big win, Omar Abdullah sought to drive home an important message that those who sent the BJP triumphing in the Jammu heartland will not be left out, nor should they feel the issues and problems they face would be discounted by the new dispensation. He said, “I will ensure that, the people of Jammu don’t feel they have no stakes in the new government. We have to ensure equality between the people of mountainous areas of Jammu and plains of Kashmir”.
On Wednesday while speaking to reporters here, he reassured, “It won’t be a government of those that voted for us. It will be a government of every single individual of J&K regardless of who they voted for or whether they voted at all. And in that special emphasis will be placed on giving a sense of ownership and a voice within the government to those areas from where MLAs in this coalition will be less in number.”
On the other side, People of Jammu and Kashmir are very aspirational with new government ,but both regions have their own urges. Traders in Jammu demanded resumption of century old Darbar Move practice, which was the highest source of income for traders. According to Jammu traders, the Darbar Move was a disaster for the Jammu as their trade was completely collapsed. A few years ago, the Lt. Governor-led administration discarded the practice on the plea that apart from other difficulties it devours millions of rupees from the state exchequer every year. The second demand was GST and railway parking, which was given to non-locals, jobs and mine contracts were given to non-locals as a result of which local people are becoming jobless. While as, Kashmiri people want full Statehood with honour and dignity. In addition, they also want the revival of the horticulture sector, protection of government jobs and protections of land.
Keeping in view the larger demand from Jammu ,sources said that as a first step towards bridging the barriers, the new government will restore the Darbar Move practice, the seasonal shifting of the government between Srinagar and Jammu.