Recently on a talk show Seedhi Baat on news channel Aaj Tak, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nitin Gadkari, among other things, said that abrogation of Article 370 of Indian constitution is part of party’s ideology and after coming to power, BJP will work on it.
In its manifesto, BJP has reiterated its stand on Article 370. The princely state of Jammu & Kashmir acceded with the Union of India on 26th October, 1947 with a special status enshrined in Article 370 of Indian Constitution. Till date the state of Jammu & Kashmir enjoys the special status.
Article 370 is talked about by BJP when elections are near. There is no deliberation on Article 370 during non-election time. They have used it as a ploy to garner votes by invoking ‘nationalism’.
Time and again, the special status to Jammu & Kashmir has been criticized, debated, and discussed. Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, founder of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, gave the slogan of “Ek Desh Mein Do Vidhan, Do Pradhan Aur Do Nishan Nahi Challenge” (In a country, we can’t have two constitutions, two prime ministers, and two national emblems) strongly voicing his opposition to the special status for Jammu & Kashmir. Bharatiya Jana Sangh, which was founded in 1951, merged with several other parties opposing the rule of Indian National Congress and formed Janata Party. After the split of Janata Party in 1980, it was re-formed as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Bharatiya Janata Party’s primary issues include abrogation of Article 370 of Indian Constitution which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, building Lord Ram’s temple in Ayodhya and implementation of a uniform civil code for all Indians.
BJP has always maintained that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the party is committed to the cause of abrogation of Article 370. But when they came into power under the banner of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 1998-1999, they didn’t take any bold step for abrogation of Article 370. The reason given was compulsion of coalition politics.
On 1st December 2013, Narendra Modi said in a rally at Jammu that there should be debate on whether Article 370 of Indian constitution has benefited J&K state or not. Is there a change in BJP’s strategy by going soft on Article 370 and opening a debate on it? It marks a departure from the party’s longstanding position on seeking abrogation of Article 370 in totality.
There is an anti-incumbency sentiment this time as well as Modi wave. It looks like Narendra Modi led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will form the government though you never know till the polling is over and the results are declared.
In another rally in Jammu on 26th March 2014, Modi had said that he will follow the path shown by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Kashmir – humanity, democracy and Kashmiriyat.
If Narendra Modi becomes the prime-minister of the country and follows Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s approach, significant change in the state of Jammu and Kashmir looks doubtful as far as constitutional status and internal dynamics are concerned. Remember, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee (during NDA rule) initiated dialogue with the separatists of the valley which resulted in nothing.
Instead of harping on Article 370, Vajpayee’s approach towards Kashmir etc., if BJP wants to resolve the issues concerning Jammu & Kashmir state (both internally as well externally); they need to ponder about their policy.
If Narendra Modi comes to power, he and his government has to tackle several issues grappling the Jammu & Kashmir state like unemployment, corruption, lack of development apart from the separatism sentiment prevalent in the valley. Also, Modi government will have to address the issues related to human rights violation in the state which are long pending. An extensive framework needs to be developed involving all the stakeholders and that should be implemented in coming years unlike UPA government’s interlocutors’ exercise which drew criticism from several quarters and the report is gathering dust somewhere.
Whether in coalition or not, if BJP is committed to the abrogation of Article 370, return of Kashmiri Pandits back to valley, addressing the issues of Pakistani refugees, and all round development of the state, the party needs to work towards it devotedly. Also, working out solution for Kashmir imbroglio with Pakistan should be on top of the agenda.
Further, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has allied with Ram Vilas Paswan led Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) for Lok Sabha elections this time and has brought it back into NDA. It is the same LJP whose leaders have hobnobbed with the separatists of Kashmir valley quite often. On one hand, they claim to be nationalists and discard any separatism, then why ally with those who fraternize with the separatists? Why compromise?
The people of the J&K state expect change by coming of Narendra Modi at the centre-stage. If NDA government comes to power with Narendra Modi as the prime minister, will it turn out to be the same like its predecessor UPA government as far as J&K state is concerned or will there be any substantial change? Only time will tell.
(Published in Newslaundry Blog)