Politics in an unending inning. You win some, you lose some. And nursing the wounds (of loss) in politics should be the last thing on the politicians’ minds.
Every opportunity must be tapped, turned to make it your agenda to woo the voters again and again because elections come and elections go… so brooding on losses should not even exist on the agenda.
With the Supreme Court upholding the Centre’s decision on the abrogation of Article 370, it is time for the major constituents of the INDIA bloc especially the Congress to come clean on its (positive) stand on the matter and put across their views and not create an atmosphere of ambiguity to further confuse the voters.
While the SC stand was hugely mentioned across media platforms and it received huge positive response from the length and breadth of the country, the Grand Old Party is still not exacting its stand.
Even as Opposition parties “unite” under the aegis of the I.N.D.I.A bloc for the 2024 general elections (notwithstanding the outcome of the recent crucial Assembly elections in five states), it becomes more crucial for the constituents to present a clear stand on the matter especially before it goes out there to seek votes.
And without wasting time, the bloc has to stand in unison in such a major issue, especially forgetting the “lapses” made in the past. Everyday is a new beginning.
Apart from other egos which have reportedly overburdened the bloc, the INDI alliance constituents must realise the need of the hour and admit that it was a much-needed crucial step toward breaking the shackles of violence and separatism that have marred the region for decades together.
Instead of maintaining a deafening silence, it is time for the bloc to flow with the time and realise the positive aspects of the decision—the potential economic development which could lead to governance in an improved manner and delivering equal rights to one and all. The Opposition must include the same in its agenda and work towards a post-370 article scenario to woo the voter especially in the greater interest of the nation.
The onus especially lies with the Congress to prepare a blueprint to think about Kashmir in the next 20 years from now rather than thinking of short-term political gains and nursing its ego.
Also, the Opposition from here on can play this issue to the hilt in seeking the betterment of the people of the region and also demand a package for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits and put pressure on the Centre for better infrastructure and investment opportunities, healthcare facilities now that the major stumbling block of Article 370 is no more in place.
This should certainly be a major agenda for the bloc to gain a place in the hearts of voters and gain confidence among the masses by playing positive politics.
By doing so, the Opposition actually has a huge opportunity to play the role of brokering truce among the major stakeholders.
Rahul Gandhi should also concentrate on Kashmir (again) during his Bharat Jodo 2.0 and this is a golden opportunity for the Opposition to now put pressure on the government for stepping on gas to first bolster the truce process and then rebuild Kashmir.
The special status once granted to Kashmir, instead of fostering unity had promoted a sense of alienation and this led to a cycle of violence which scarred the soul of the region.
The Opposition parties in India currently stand at a critical juncture, facing an acid test and they need a radical approach and get rid of hypocrisy. By doing so, they would at least do no harm to their already dwindled fortunes.
In this historic moment, the Opposition must forget reported political opportunism and shift its entire focus towards uplifting the cause of the people of Kashmir.
The aftermath of Article 370’s abrogation has revealed the bare truth of conflicts within the bloc.
In the Samajwadi Party, the decibel count of internal squabbles has reached an alarming notch. Akhilesh Yadav’s stand contrasts sharply with that of Mulayam Singh Yadav’s initial criticism and concern over the impact on Kashmir’s autonomy.
However, Arvind Kejriwal’s move has thus reportedly exposed the chinks in the bloc further.
The National Conference (NC), a vocal Kashmiri player, vehemently condemned the abrogation, interpreting it as an assault on the identity and autonomy of the region and their consistent plea for restoration and dialogue exposes further the fissures in the bloc.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) launched a vigorous opposition, denouncing the move as a blatant violation of democracy and the Constitution. Tejaswi Yadav’s vocal criticism highlighted human rights concerns. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), once opposed, has pivoted to a much-nuanced approach to the issue. While expressing apprehensions about long-term consequences, Mehbooba Mufti called for dialogue with the Kashmiri people. Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) consistently castigated the abrogation, deeming it a “black day” for democracy and forewarning of potential violence and instability.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) condemned the abrogation, emphasising the need to respect Kashmiri sentiments and advocating a dialogue-based solution. MK Stalin criticised the government’s unilateral approach, demanding a more inclusive process and the CPI (M) has staunchly opposed the move, viewing it as an attack on the federal structure and insisting on a political solution respecting Kashmiri aspirations.
So where does the INDIA bloc go from here? It may be recalled that during the run-up to the Assembly elections in five states how the SP had taunted the Congress and also how Bihar CM was reportedly unhappy with the bloc not being able to meet thanks to Congress’s busy schedule for the polls.
It is time, the bloc huddled and chalked ways to use the SC’s stand to make the best of political moves to ensure that the Centre is given a task for the upliftment of the region.
(Writer is senior Journalist and Former Senior Associate Editor, OHeraldo, Goa.)
