It has been two weeks now that Omar Abdullah Government took over the reins of Jammu and Kashmir where the powers remain divided between Raj Bhawan and Legislative Assembly. However, the division is yet to be cleared and not only the people are confused, government itself is trying to understand their legitimate domains for interferences.
Many of the departments receive directions still from the Raj Bhawan though they normally seem to be the domain of elected government. As for the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019 is concerned, it is to be widely believed that law and order, revenue and some other crucial domains pertains to Raj Bhawan and elected government has no control over it.
The recent, upsurge in terrorist attacks across the Kashmir and targeting of non-locals yet again put the security domain under intense discussion in public sphere since the BJP accused Omar Abdullah Government of shielding terrorists.
On the other hand, the National Conference patron Dr Farooq Abdullah also sought a through probe to ascertain the people and designs behind the growing incidents of terrorism ever since Omar Abdullah was elected as Chief Minister. This has led to a serious verbal brawl between the main political parties and JKPCC president Tariq Hameed Karra went a step ahead and questioned the contribution of security and intelligence agencies in dealing against the terrorism.
The aim of taking away the security affairs from local government and handling directly it from New Delhi by MHA was aimed to control the terrorism in Kashmir and unearth its local stakeholders. Over the past several years, MHA had done it significantly and people heaved a sigh of relief.
The fact that enforced shutdowns, stone pelting, innocent killings by the terrorists were brought down to almost zero level was endorsed by all and MHA needed not to lower its guard now. However, post Assembly elections in September this year the political dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir changed where it has split the powers between Raj Bhawan and Legislative Assembly. It has also seen the politics over the security affairs where allegations and counter allegations are lodged against each other by JKNC and BJP which sans wisdom.
In this border state where the hostilities with Pakistan are at peak, the common goal among all the stakeholders like political parties and civilians is security and stability in Jammu and Kashmir. Rest everything can be politicized as democracy has its deep roots in the Indian politics. People don’t want situation to go back where from it was controlled by New Delhi.
Omar Abdullah amidst the security threats and volatility can’t run a government and deliver on promises that it made to the people and got a sweeping mandate. BJP may also face a backlash across the country if the situation goes out of its hands in Kashmir. Not only it had beaten drums of normalcy and stability in Jammu and Kashmir after it revoked Article 370 in 2019, however, it is directly controlling the law and order from Delhi through Raj Bhawan. These common stakes among all the stakeholders shall bring them on a common table where they unify it’s resolve against the menace of terrorism that only brought death and destruction to people and shattered the economy of Jammu and Kashmir. Here from with the powers divided, the BJP and JKNC must underline the importance of commonalities that benefit common people. The mandate of the people has come with huge responsibilities to Omar Abdullah and at the same time BJP can’t evade its responsibilities since it has also received a sweeping mandate from people in Jammu though it sits on opposition benches. From here onwards the BJP has a bigger challenge to retain its fort in Jammu or it can only dwindle in numbers in upcoming elections if it failed to deliver.
