Editorial: Cauldron of communalism

Democracy is premised on the differentiation of group interests and their proper representation. But in evolving democracies like India’s, the dividing line between differentiation and divisiveness can be and is very thin. That is why the British were able, eventually, to partition India. That shock ought to have taught politicians a thing or two. But as events in the long saga of divisive politics in the country show, this is not the case.

So it should not come as a surprise that things have got so out of hand in the latest episode of such politics: the transfer of 100 acres of forest land, which was leased out to private parties, to the Amarnath Shrine Board. The transfer was not necessary. But when it was being done, the senior partner in the state government, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), was fully in the picture. Now having pulled out of the government on this issue, it denies its earlier action for fear of losing votes to the National Conference (NC). The environmentalists were the first to object, but it turned out that there were no trees there. Then the politicians of the Kashmir valley got into the act. That led to the allotment order being revoked. This flip-flop has allowed everyone to seek political advantage. The current impasse is the result.

 

It is hard to see how it can be resolved without the active cooperation of the major political parties in the picture. But the problem is compounded by the fact that the next 12 months are election season. In J&K, where the chief minister has quit but the House has not been dissolved, posturing by the four main contestants — the Congress, BJP, National Conference and PDP — makes a solution even harder. The BJP seeks to recapture the Hindu vote, as it had done by exploiting the Babri Masjid issue. For reasons that have to do with national politics, the Congress can’t be seen taking sides against the Muslims, though they vote mainly for either the NC or the PDP in the Valley. In short, the politics in the state, while being simple at one level — communal — is complex at another, for historical reasons. Fortunately, the major parties seem to have realised the dangers of allowing the situation in the state to deteriorate, and adopted mostly moderate postures at Wednesday’s all-party meeting convened by the Prime Minister.

The government, which has been caught off guard by the intensity of the reaction and violence in Jammu, will need to move deftly if there is to be a solution. The reconstitution of the shrine board might help, provided the right people are appointed. Explaining to the general public that a mountain is being made out of a mole-hill could influence the more thoughtful elements to recognise that nothing of any great consequence has happened in the last couple of months. But what is needed most of all is to connect with the people of the state at an emotional rather than an intellectual level.

This episode points to something that should distress everyone. The last 60 years ought to have made communal divisions in the country (including Jammu and Kashmir) weaker. Instead, they appear to have become stronger, thanks to the political style of the parties, none of whom is blameless.