#dnaEdit: Coping with dissent

Regardless of its politics, it is a no-win situation for any government dealing with dissidents and hard-line opponents. Take the case of Syed Shah Geelani and Masarat Alam for instance. The two were under arrest for long spells — from 2008 to 2014 — during the National Conference (NC)-Congress coalition government. The continued political compulsions of the state have now forced the PDP-BJP coalition to adopt the same means of reining in the two leaders. When Alam was released in March, BJP made the usual noises accusing its ally — the PDP — of soft-pedalling separatist leaders.  The NC and the Congress too joined the chorus. The BJP indulged in the predictable rhetoric of zero-tolerance towards separatists. But saner voices across the political spectrum were aware that keeping Alam behind bars was no longer an option. 
But it would appear that an opportunity to incarcerate Alam has now come the government’s way. The waving of Pakistan’s flag at a rally to greet Geelani in Srinagar on Wednesday was an act of provocation. 

The inference that Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed was under pressure from the BJP-led coalition government at the Centre to act against Alam might serve as propaganda fodder for the saffron party. The truth however seems to be that the state government had no option other than act against Alam and Geelani. The arrest of the separatists had been a recurring theme in the state’s political discourse. The BJP may want to score brownie points by deriving some political mileage from the rhetoric of zero-tolerance to anti-nationalism of the Valley separatists. But that is not the only factor. Mufti is also acting on his own will. He does not want to be seen as yielding to the Hurriyat. He would rather like to — or at least be seen — as taming them. 

The Chief Minister had declared emphatically his resolve to not tolerate the waving of Pakistan’s flag on his turf. That the respective emphases of BJP and PDP leaders would be different is hardly surprising. As a matter of fact, most political players in the state and at the Centre feed off the separatists’ politics of disaffection. It gives them an opportunity to focus their energies in handling the dissidents. 

The issue however goes beyond the gains to be made by political parties in dealing with the pro-Azadi and pro-Pakistan voices in the Kashmir Valley. One of the judicious ways to deal with Kashmir’s political radicals is to treat their disaffection as a political rather than law and order problem. At the same time, it is necessary to create educational and employment opportunities for the people. Whether it is the PDP and the BJP on the one hand, or NC and the Congress on the other, the political parties have to have the interests of the people — both political and development — on their mind. 

BJP leaders in Jammu and Delhi are aware, now that they are in power, that there is a crucial need to win the trust of the people. This is the most effective way of countering the hardliners/separatists. Securing trust will require time, patience and understanding — particularly in light of the protracted history of violence in the Valley. Miracles are not going to be wrought overnight. The BJP is willing to work with Mufti in delivering good governance. The statements and counter-statements that BJP and PDP exchange with each other — or the statements they make against separatists are mere contingencies. They do not appear to form part of the Kashmir’s main political paradigm.