KASHMIR-23

POLITICAL AGENDA IN J & K

  

1.       Kashmir Accord.    A series of discussions were held between Sheikh Abdullah and various members of the Indian Government including Indira Gandhi, commenced in 1974 ‘over the terms on which the administration of the state might be entrusted to a Government headed by Sheikh Abdullah’. On 24 February 1975, the Kashmir accord was adopted, the provisions of which were acceptable to both sides. Sheikh Abdullah became Chief Minister. In July 1975, the new National Conference (after dissolution of the Plebiscite Front), was reincarnated as the National Conference.

2.       Considerable economic progress had been made in the state and large-scale subsidies were given by the Central Government. However, there were allegations of large-scale corruption among a favoured few and discontent was steadily brewing. In June 1977, fresh elections to the state legislature were held in which the National Conference won a complete majority of the seats. During the period December 1978 until March 1979, widespread riots took place in Jammu in protest again the alleged favouritism in employment by the National Conference. The decision to revise Ladakh’s tehsil structure (so as to increase the importance of the predominantly Muslim Kargil tehsil), led to resentment in the region.   

      

3.       Dr. Farooq Abdullah was appointed as the President of the National Conference in August 1981. There was growing distrust between the Central Government and Sheikh Abdullah. Issues such as passage of Resettlement Bill (pertaining to status of refugees in the state) by the state legislature in March 1982 which led to an constitutional crisis. 

4.       Sheikh Abdullah died on 8 September 1982 and his son Farooq Abdullah was appointed Chief Minister.

Rise of Islamic Militancy

5.       In 1984, Indian Forces took up positions on the Siachen Glacier (North of NJ 9842).Pakistan too sought control resulting in patrol clashes, assaults and artillery duels since then. In 1983, elections were held in the state and it was a straight contest between the Congress (I) and the National Conference. These elections were marked by violence and the National Conference emerged victorious. Shortly after the elections there was a steady increase in violence and it was clear that there was an organised orchestration of this violence. In the words of Alastair Lamb – “There was being injected into the vale of Kashmir what can only be described as the first Phase of general Islamic rebellion against the Hindu domination of New Delhi”.

6.       On 26 March 1984, Jagmohan was appointed Governor of the state. Farooq Abdullah lost his majority in the state legislature and GM Shah became Chief Minister in his place. The communal situation reached alarming proportions in the state and on 7 March 1986 G M Shah lost his majority in the legislature and resigned mainly due to his inability to control the situation. Governor’s rule was imposed in the state and in September 1986 President’s rule was imposed in the state. Hectic political developments were embarked upon and in November 1986, President’s rule was lifted and Farooq Abdullah was reinstated as Chief Minister. Elections were again held in the state in March 1987 and the National Conference won as before and Farroq Abdullah was reinstalled as Chief Minister. The security situation rapidly deteriorated and Governor’s rule was once again imposed.

Rubiya Sayeed Incident

7.       V P Singh won the elections in 1989 and was sworn in as Prime Minister in December 1989. During his election campaign he promised to find a solution to the Kashmir Imbroglio. But within a few days of his taking over, the militants belonging to the JKLF abducted Dr Rubiya Sayeed daughter of the then Home Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. Amanullah Khan chairman of JKLF (based in Rawalpindi) claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. The JKLF demanded  release  of  five  hardcore  front  members  from  prison in exchange for the safe return of the young 

woman. The deal was struck and the captives were promptly freed. This release of terrorists was claimed as a victory by militants and Srinagar witnessed jubilant scenes. Government authority ceased to exist and most Kashmiris felt that within a month,Kashmir would either become independent or a part of Pakistan. Kashmir remaining with India was thought to be a lost cause. The abject surrender by the government to the kidnappers sent a signal to Pakistan that India lacked the will to hold on to Kashmir. This incident marked the beginning of the proxy war launched by Pakistan to wrest Kashmir from India.

8.       On 25 May 1990, Jagmohan resigned as Governor and Girish Saxena was appointed to the post. By now, it was clearly evident that the rising militancy in the state of Jammu and Kashmir was abetted and supported by Pakistan and terrorism took on grave dimension which, exists till this day. The advent of Islamic terrorism led to the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the state in 1990.