Kashmir completes 5 years of New Delhi’s direct rule

SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir (AA): Indian-occupied Kashmir completed five years of direct Indian rule on Monday amid calls by major political parties for the restoration of electoral democracy in the region that was divested of its political autonomy in 2019.

The governor’s rule was imposed on June 20, 2018, after a split between the region’s unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India’s ruling Hindu nationalist party, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), one of the two largest political parties of Jammu and Kashmir, making it the second longest spell of Delhi’s direct rule over the region.

The BJP and the PDP had formed a coalition government in 2015 after agreeing on an Agenda of Alliance, a set of points that aimed at focusing on administration while maintaining the status quo on contentious political issues.

On June 19, 2018, the BJP withdrew from the coalition and criticized the PDP for having “failed in its responsibility.” The BJP claimed that “violence had increased in Kashmir Valley and fundamental rights were under threat.”

The power of the state was assumed the next day by its then-Governor Narinder Nath Vohra. In Aug. 2018, Vohra was replaced by Satya Pal Malik, who became the last governor of India’s only Muslim-majority state, which was downgraded and divided into two federally ruled territories, and divested of its autonomy on Aug. 5, 2019.

In Oct. 2019, the governor’s post was abolished, and a Lieutenant Governor was appointed for what is now called ‘Union Territory’ of Jammu and Kashmir.

Imran Nabi Dar, a spokesman for National Conference, which was in power in 1990 when the anti-India insurgency erupted , told Anadolu that there was no rationale to further extend the direct rule.

“One could understand the logic behind the governor’s rule in 1990. Militancy was at its peak, and the situation was volatile. But today, the ruling BJP claims that there is normalcy, there are no strikes or protests, and that tourists are coming in hordes. So, what is the justification for not holding elections?” he asked.

He said the administration is being run by a “bureaucracy and accountability is lacking.” When the Indian government recently hosted a tourism meeting of G-20 nations in the capital Srinagar, apparently to bolster its claim over the region internationally following the abrogation of autonomy, several political parties questioned why the situation is not conducive to elections if it is normal enough for such a big international event.

India’s ruling BJP, however, maintains that announcing an election is the prerogative of the Election Commission of India.

“As a political party, we are more ready for elections today than tomorrow. We are a democracy, and more than anyone else we are eager for elections to be held,” BJP spokesman Arun Gupta told Anadolu. But, he added, “The call for elections has to be taken by the Election Commission.”

“The Election Commission is an autonomous body. They take into account security scenarios and other factors before announcing the elections. So they have to take a call, but as a party, we are ready for elections on any day,” he said.