The heading of this article may sound you strange but after reading the full text I am sure you will definitely appreciate my angle of thinking . I don’t claim that India has lost Kashmir physically, but for sure, India has left space open for those propagating separatism as per the style and fashion suitable to them . Let us see how India is out from Kashmir? India’s oldest political party and longest ruling party ‘ Congress’ has forged an alliance with a local regional political party National Conference for the ongoing Lok Sabha general elections . As per agreement reached out between two parties, Congress and NC have shared all the six parliamentary seats on fifty percent basis . Though the alliance between two or multi parties of same ideology is no wrong, but here in Kashmir the pre poll alliance took place between those two parties having complete opposite ideology particularly in terms of “Kashmir”. This alliance has not only demolished the dream house constructed by Congress workers in Kashmir valley at the cost of their lives, it has also paved a way for more separatism in Kashmir valley , say observers .The alliance between Congress and National Conference is not seen as an unholy move, but it has national implications as well . See how the state has been pided on sectarian and religious lines .
All the three seats belonging to Kashmir valley have been given to National Conference while Congress opted to have other three seats belonging to Jammu and Ladakh regions. This seat sharing has been done completely on sectarian and religious lines . There are three prominent regions of Jammu and Kashmir identified as Kashmir valley, Jammu region and Ladakh region . Kashmir valley is dominantly inhabited by Muslims with more than 99% population, while Jammu region has 60% Hindu population . And both these regions have always displayed a different political view particularly after the emergence of rebellion in Kashmir valley . Similarly, Ladakh region comprising two districts Leh and Kargil is inhabited by Budhists and Shia Muslims .
Though administratively, Ladakh is still part of Kashmir region , however, it’s approach has always been quite different from Kashmir valley particularly in terms of politics . Similarly, politically, the approach of Jammu region has also been different from Kashmir valley. For instance, separatism and anti India sentiment was always dominant in Kashmir valley even it can be noticed in the so-called mainstream political parties like National Conference and new born PDP . While the people of Jammu and Ladakh regions have always been displaying their nationalistic and pro-India face .Leaving aside Jammu and Ladakh where it has its strong base, the Congress party has always kept its presence in Kashmir valley too since 1947. And it can be safely said that it was only the Congress party and its leadership of that times likes Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru who had managed Kashmir for India despite availability of other options to the Kashmiries at that point of time . Since 1947, Indian National Congress has always been there in Kashmir valley and what ever the step India took so far in Kashmir whether right or wrong, it was politically always supported by Congress . In other words we can say that Congress has always been India’s political strength in Kashmir valley .
Strategically too, Indian establishment always encouraged the Kashmir valley based Congress men and they were given important positions to keep the Indian interest live in Kashmir valley . Endorsing this point, a senior Congress leader from Kashmir valley told this journalist that “ Congress in Kashmir means India in Kashmir”. He said ideologically, this has been only political force in Kashmir valley which propagated the Indian national agenda even in the hostile situations . “ Despite all odds, Congress was given ear and space by the Kashmiries and that is why we were always present in each Kashmir government”, said Congress leader . He said they were not against alliance, but pre-poll alliance with any such party which has completely opposite ideology means a complete surrender of our ideology before that party . He says there is a lot of difference between pre poll and post poll alliance . “Pre poll alliance is a surrender of an ideology and post poll alliance is a compulsion of the given situation”, he added .
Describing the alliance between Congress and National Conference a dangerous move for the future of state, an other Congress leader says that with this alliance, the state has got pided on sectarian lines . “ Muslim dominated Kashmir valley has been completely given to National Conference while Hindu majority and Budhist areas have been given to Congress . It means we have left space open for National Conference and other local parties to propagate separatism of their choice like autonomy and self rule and there is no party to propagate the nationalism as the Congress has been kept out from valley”, he says. Not only this, for the sake of alliance, how a Congress man can endorse the stand of alliance partner from the dais where they will speak for autonomy and will declare Kashmir as disputed which is against our party policy and against Indian National policy . In short, he says “ by keeping Congress out from Kashmir means we have pushed the idea of India out from Kashmir valley” . “ We wanted at least to contest one seat from Kashmir valley so that the nationalistic people particularly Congress men would have an opportunity to propagate the Indian national interest in the area, but our leadership has not thought about this broader interest”, he adds.