Anil Anand
a.anil.anand@gmail.com
Has the Congress totally given up in upholding the Nehruvian model of secularism based on diversity in the face of heightened attack by the Rightwing forces during the last decade debunking this theory on purely communal lines.
A glowing example of this Nehruvian model is Jammu and Kashmir where three regions- Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh- sailed together for nearly seven decades post-Independence notwithstanding certain differences on ground. In fact, this model was a take-off from the erstwhile Maharaja’s rule when a Muslim majority state containing many other ethnic groups was successfully run by a Hindu ruler.
The first serious threat to this model was posed by the developments of August 5, 2019 when the state was degraded and divided into two Union Territories heaping great humiliation on people of three regions- Jammu and Ladakh realized it later. The developments in Ladakh and prevailing somber mood in Jammu as a result of the Narendra Modi government reneging on promises held out to them to protect their ethnic, regional, land and job rights, and of course political empowerment diluted after partial abrogation of Article 370 that gave special rights to the erstwhile state.
What has made the scenario worst is the manner in which Congress, the organization which should have been at the vanguardism of protecting this model, has become complicit in its gradual erosion. What the party is doing, particularly after August 5, 2019, is nothing but an act in self-destruction.
The cacophony and protestations, inside and outside Parliament, by the party in Delhi following the dilution of Article 370 has been quite disproportionate to what has been transpiring in its Jammu and Kashmir unit. Rather than strengthening and making the unit battle ready for a fight, every move of the party’s central high command most ill-thought, including timing and selection of new PCC president, proved counter-productive. The Congress has been becoming politically irrelevant with every stroke of action of the high command abetted by nonchalant local leadership, and getting further decimated with Mallikarjun Kharge- Rahul Gandhi combine looking the other way.
This has been reflected in the manner in which Congress readied itself or not, to face the elections to fill up four slots from the Union Territory. This will be first representation of Jammu and Kashmir in the Upper House after becoming a UT and the elections are being held after a gap of five years. So, the significance!
Though part of the ruling coalition- giving outside support- Congress from the word go never looked in the game or showed seriousness, both at the AICC and PCC levels, to work for a formidable combination with the ruling National Conference-Congress alliance which is also backed by half-a-dozen MLAs of smaller parties and independents. In the 90-member House, it is BJP versus the rest and that increased the significance of the Congress as a nodal of the I.N.D.I.A combine. The party, surprisingly, never readied itself to take up this responsibility.
Out of the four seats NC is sure to win three whereas the fourth could have been a close call had the Congress shown any serious inclination other than its few self-centered senior leaders fathoming their own chances. But that was not to be.
The Congress’s UT leadership has been blaming NC patriarch Dr Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for not leaving a safe seat for the party. Under this pretext they took a hurried decision in staying out of the Rajya Sabha poll contest. Any decision to abstain, as announced by Peoples Conference MLA, Sajjad Lone also, indirectly benefits the BJP against whom all the political parties and independent legislators had forged a front.
Why did Congress decide to opt out of the context which is going to have a direct bearing on contesting the two-assembly bi-elections- one each in Jammu and Kashmir regions? Why did not Abdullahs give a safe Rajya Sabha passage to Congress?
These are vital questions which have to be analysed in the context of current pathetic condition of the party organization in Jammu and Kashmir and refusal of the national leadership to stem the rot which has been simmering over the years. The denial of a safe seat, which needed a painstaking effort that went abegging, was the outcome of an unwilling AICC and an inapt local leadership failing to raise the matter with Abdullahs or compelling to do so, much before the dye was cast.
As per public knowledge, no parleys were held with National Conference either by AICC in charge of Jammu and Kashmir, Syed Naseer Hussain or Digvijay Singh heading a committee to work for better coordination between the two alliance partners, to work out a formula beneficial to the ruling combine. It is beyond comprehension that Mr Hussain left for Australia, in the midst of developments in J and K, to attend some private functions.
The biggest malady hitting the Congress in the UT was its top three or four leaders, dominating the working of the party without involving the broader section of the senior leaders and workers, acted in a haste to present themselves as prospective candidates in search of a safe seat. The effort was individual-centric and not Congress-centric which further portrayed the inherent weakness of the party leading to the NC taking a tough stance.
The fact that these leaders, isolated in their own organization but surprisingly, knowingly or unknowingly, backed by the high-ups in the Congress, were not taken seriously by the National Conference. It is possible that because of the PCC leadership’s weakness, the high command did not put much pressure on Abdullahs despite reports, as stated by PCC president, Mr Tariq Hamid Karra, that Dr Abdullah had during a meeting with Congress leader Mrs Sonia Gandhi promised to give a “safe seat” to the party.
The current developments in Jammu and Kashmir which have further pushed the Congress to a remote corner, should serve as a wake-up call for former Congress president Rahul Gandhi. All goodwill generated by his Bharat Jodo Yatra and his warm gestures at renewing his personal family bonds with Kashmir, have unfortunately evaporated due to total mismanagement of party affairs both at the central and UT levels.
In order to expect a winning Rajya Sabha seat from National Conference, the Congress’s local leadership needed to be in a strong position. In a position to exert pressure for any bargaining chip to succeed.
Was a BJP sleeper cell, within the Congress, instrumental behind the decision to abstain from Rajya Sabha elections?
This specter has been raised from time to time both by the party insiders and Jammu and Kashmir watchers. Unfortunately, the central leadership has simply glossed over such allegations and shown no interest in galvanizing the organize to make it battle ready- the biggest one is to save the Nehruvian model.
The heads must roll from AICC headquarters to PCC offices in Jammu and Kashmir. Responsibility should be fixed at both the levels for steady decline of the party in politically and strategically significant Jammu and Kashmir. The question to be addressed immediately is why the organization has been allowed to become fiefdom of a selective few and why have they gone scot free despite repeated failures both on the electoral and organizational fronts. Instead, they have been perpetually rewarded for every failure.
The Congress-National Conference alliance is on the rocks due to difference over Rajya Sabha seats. If it could put the Omar Abdullah to a risk of survival, it will nudge him towards the BJP, the main opposition party in the assembly with 28 seats, for survival. Even a political uncertainty so created will suit the BJP as the saffron party has been looking for such an opportunity to fulfil dream of forming government in Jammu and Kashmir.
The net loser in this entire gamut will be Congress who should realise that they have a vital role to play to safeguard the Nehruvian model in the UT as both NC and Peoples Democratic Party, main constituents of I.N.D.I.A block, have from time to time shook hands with the BJP.
The first challenge for Congress, under the circumstances will be to keep their six MLAs intact even to effectively enforce Rajya Sabha poll boycott call.Any division in their ranks, the danger is grave and looming large, will deal a serious blow to the Congress.
The Congress high command must sit up and act. They should pay heed to Jammu and Kashmir including appointing AICCin charge and other committee heads leaders who not only have interest but know Jammu and Kashmir in its historic and current perspective. So should be a new PCC chief. Or else, Nehruvian model is in further danger after the developments of August 5, 2019 and more so in the aftermath of Rajya Sabha election fiasco.
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