After a considerable period of quiet and lull, the State of Jammu & Kashmir is once again in the news headlines. The concern is that unlike the usual cross border violence or periodic infiltration and firing at Indian troops, this time round it is more of an internal crisis and therefore the responsibility of the State government, the politicians and civil society. For weeks now there have been massive protests in the Kashmir valley leading to riot like situation and the subsequent resort to violence on all sides. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who is himself a strong critique of the Armed Forces had no other option but to deploy it in order to control the situation. Against this backdrop, the Opposition PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti is not cooperating with the National Conference-Congress government in the State. The PDP despite appeal from all quarters including by the Prime Minister had refused to attend an all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister to discuss the situation in Kashmir. At this juncture what is required in J&K is a bi-partisan approach to deal with the political problem. There is a need for the ruling government and the main opposition to cooperate on the unresolved Kashmir problem. Whether it is the National Conference or the PDP, the two main parties, both should rise above party politics for the sake of peace.
And it is here that the political parties in J&K can learn and emulate from their counterparts in Nagaland. After many years of political wrangling over the Naga issue, the two main political parties in Nagaland, the ruling NPF and the Nagaland Congress have resolved to work together on the Naga political issue. A Joint Parliamentary Working Committee (JPWC) of the 11th Nagaland Legislative Assembly has been formed. The Chief Minister of Nagaland and the Opposition Leader are co-convenors of this joint forum. Since its formation a few months back, all decisions related to the Naga political problem is taken up in a joint meeting and any outcome is based on consensus and unanimity. In Nagaland both the parties have come to the realization that politicizing the Naga issue has only added to further division. While the need to uphold debate within a given political space is not being belittled, what is required of both the ruling NC and the Opposition PDP is to keep at least the Kashmir issue above politics. It will be extremely unwise and at the same time unfortunate if both parties play to the gallery or use the Kashmir issue to score brownie political points. J&K like Nagaland also require a process of peace and reconciliation. And to do this will require a joint effort of all concerned and representing all shades of opinion. The simple logic is to involve all political parties without sidestepping anybody. Only then can a collective decision be expected in which everyone would have a stake in it and hence remain accountable to the process itself. Unless there is wide-ranging support cutting across party lines agreement or decision will face a legitimacy crisis. All the political parties will have to abandon rigid stands or claims and instead work collectively by submitting their political interests for the overall objective of bringing about peace in J&K.
