Duality & dichotomy has always been hallmark of electoral polity in Kashmir. This duality has been ingrained in our collective psyche. Common masses attest a political narrative for their petty personal benefits on one day & heap praises on counter-narrative on the other. Politics has itself become a corporate enterprise in Kashmir. Political parties have always cheated mandate of common masses.
Political sellouts & compromises have been corner-stone of electoral politics. The protection of Article 370 as well as special status is their biggest poll plank. Article 370 has been eroded umpteen number of times through active involvement of all stakeholders. The spirit of article 370 was buried long ago, when Sadri-Riyasat was converted into Governor and Prime minister into chief minister. The political party, which buried internal autonomy of our state is today fooling common masses through emotive slogans.
The mainstream polity is loosing its credibility due to utter disregard to ground situation. Mainstream politics has not been able to heal bruised psyche of masses.They have not been able to become ingredients of grand negotiation & reconciliation between India & Pakistan. They have always misled the state for their narrow political benefits.They have failed to represent the actual ground situation.The growing alienation & radicalisation is accumulation of their historical follies & compromises. Separatism is becoming mainstream in Kashmir. This is evident by the fact, that young educated Kashmiris are joining militant ranks. They feel suffocated due to shrinking of mainstream space.
In between, the duality of common masses is also not unknown. Singing and counter-singing in mainstream rallies is the talk of the day. The mass participation in militant funerals, mainstream as well as separatist rallies is surprising everybody. Political analysts are not able to comprehend our political affiliation. The Political DNA of Kashmiris manifests only tales of dualism. The political commitment to any narrative is deeply missing. The psyche of Kashmiris is very strange. We will affiliate with every political narrative for our petty personal interests. We will curse and praise state narrative in the same breath. At last, the word Kashmiri is itself becoming symbol of duality.
Syed Mohsin Attiq
Daharmunah Budgam
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