It looks as if the PDP-led government in Jammu and Kashmir is on a rampage to promote its religious culture in the state raking up one issue after the other that is bound to challenge national integrity. It is barely a few weeka that the PDP-BJP alliance government came into being in the strife-torn state but there have been radicalized statements made, irrational demands put forth and hasty and cowardly decisions taken just to mollify the hard-core and irrational people of the state and the militant outfits from the neighbouring Pakistan.
On the very day the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed was sworn in, he credited the smooth conduct of Assembly elections in the state to the people from across the border, the Hurriyat and other militant outfits, obviously referring to Pakistan militancy. Immediately thereafter some lawmakers of PDP demanded for the mortal remains of the dreaded militant Afzal Guru, who was hanged for leading the attack on the Indian Parliament, the temple of our democracy.
Needless to say that the attack on Parliament is the worst conceivable crime for it strikes the entire nation and along with it every citizen of the nation. But that would make sense to a person who believes in patriotism and nationalism. People with indoctrinated minds cannot see anything beyond petty parochial interests and the slain villain becomes their martyr and hero to be worshipped. Let me repeat once again that this is what we call religious bigotry.
Next, we hear that the PDP-led government has set free a prominent separatist and Muslim League chief Masrat Alam Bhat, who was cooling his heels behind bars for unleashing riots in the valley in 2010, that had killed over 100 youths apart from injuring scores of security men in the stone-pelting protests. He was arrested after a massive manhunt lasting for months and a bounty of Rs 10 lakhs that was announced. On what basis has he been released defying all the norms of judicial system?
The single point agenda behind this disreputable decision is the same that we are sounding time and again – ‘What matters to me is the people of my cult, no matter what their crime is’. The BJP must be lamenting its decision for supporting the PDP party. In a democratic system, the culture of alliance government is supported, which tacitly submits to the ‘give and take’ philosophy. However when the coalition partners are of conflicting ideologies there can only be turmoil. What can be expected from such a government?
