South Kashmir: Will ceasefire help political parties regain lost space?

While the 30-day unilateral truce announced by the central government did not find any takers among the militant or separatist organisations in Jammu and Kashmir, the ruling J&K People’s Democratic Party leaders in south Kashmir seem to be in a rush to make the most out of it by regaining some lost political space. The opposition JK National Conference, however, believes that the ceasefire would not help them to connect with the people.

Spreading over four districts—Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam—south Kashmir has been a powder keg since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Burhan Wani in July 2016. With more and more youth joining the militancy, the region has well-nigh remained off-limits to mainstream political parties. As government forces ratcheted up their hunt for militants by launching Operation All-Out, a large number of civilians, besides militants, were also killed, turning the popular sentiment against the mainstream political leaders.

One of the PDP legislators from South Kashmir, wishing not be named, said that he could not visit his constituency even once in 2016 after the killing of Wani. “There was much public anger against us. Barring a few parts of south Kashmir, the situation is more or less same” he added. He, however, said that the truce would surely provide all political parties a window of opportunity to visit their constituencies and connect with people.

JKNC leader and legislature Showkat Ahmad Ganie thinks otherwise. He says that the political space for all mainstream political parties in the Valley, particularly in south Kashmir has considerably shrunk. “No party is able to organise a public meeting in the area” he adds. Ganie believes that halting of military operations during Ramzan would hardly enable political leaders to regain their lost space.

PDP MLA from Shopian’s Wachi Constituency Aijaz Ahmad Mir conceded that no public meetings or rallies, except for a few at district headquarters, were held in his constituency since July 2016. “It is true that we were not able to organise rallies. Now, I think cease fire will provide a breather to all of us. We will be able to visit our constituencies and repair our relations with the people” he said. “After all it will help in breaking the despicable spell of violence” he added.

Although CPI(M) legislator MY Tarigami says that he visits his constituency regularly, he acknowledges that political space in the valley has vanished. “It is not all about mainstream parties, political space in valley has got shrunk for all moderates” he said.

“I appreciate the truce but it should be backed by a concrete dialogue process. And unfortunately Prime Minister during his visit to state did not hint at it,” added Tarigami.