06/11/2024
.National Conferenceâs Hypocrisy on Article 370: A Political Opportunist's Dance
The political dynamics in Jammu and Kashmir have been nothing short of turbulent over the years, and the National Conference (NC) has always positioned itself as the custodian of Kashmir's special status. However, the party's recent actions and public statements on Article 370 reveal a stark hypocrisy that warrants closer scrutiny. This hypocrisy, which was already visible in the post-2014 period, has only deepened in the wake of the 2019 revocation of Article 370 by the BJP-led central government. NCâs opportunistic maneuvering in 2024 shows their inability to take a principled stand and, instead, seek to gain political mileage from a complex issue.
The NC-PDP Dynamic and the 2014 Alliance
In the 2014 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, no party emerged with a clear majority. The PDP and BJP, despite their ideological differences, forged an alliance to form the government, each hoping to secure its own interestsâPDP with its commitment to autonomy for Kashmir, and BJP with its vision for greater integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India. In contrast, the NC, having lost its grip on power, sat in the opposition, with 15 seats in the assembly.
The BJP-PDP alliance ultimately fell apart in 2018 after the BJP pulled its support from the government, citing the growing distance between the two parties, especially over issues related to Article 370. For the PDP, this sudden withdrawal was a sharp blow, as the party had signed the "Agenda of Alliance" with the BJP, which, among other things, promised no changes to Jammu and Kashmirâs special status. In the wake of the allianceâs collapse, the PDPâs political fortunes began to decline, culminating in their poor showings in the 2024 elections, where they won only 3 seats and failed to secure any parliamentary seat.
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Fast-forward to 2024, and the National Conference, now a major player in the state, has found itself in a peculiar position. While it emerged as the largest party in the Assembly with a clear majority, it failed to win any significant seats from the Hindu-majority Jammu region, with the BJP securing 29 seats in the Jammu belt. The NC's strategy, it seems, is to consolidate its position in the Kashmir Valley, while simultaneously working with independents and accommodating the political dynamics of Jammu.
NC has been very vocal about its opposition to the revocation of Article 370 in 2019, which removed the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Their manifesto for the 2024 elections promised to bring a resolution in the Assembly rejecting the August 5, 2019 decision and to take steps to restore the regionâs special status. This could have been the perfect opportunity for NC to present a united and principled stand. However, what the party presented instead was a vague, watered-down resolution that fell short of the original promise.
The passed by NC in the Assembly demanded "special status and constitutional guarantees" Article 370 or 35A. This omission is highly telling. NCâs failure to directly name the Articles in their resolution suggests an unwillingness to confront the full implications of the 2019 revocation, and a reluctance to take a bold stand on the issue. The ambiguity of the NCâs position is a clear attempt to avoid alienating their supporters in Jammu, who have largely supported the BJPâs stance on Article 370, while trying to placate their base in Kashmir, which expects a strong opposition to the central governmentâs actions.
PDPâs Clear Stand: A Contrast to NC's Ambiguity
In stark contrast, the PDP, despite its electoral downfall, has maintained a firm stance on Article 370. During the first day of the Assembly session in 2024, PDP MLA Waheed Para tabled a resolution that explicitly rejected the August 5, 2019 decision and demanded the restoration of Article 370 and 35A in their original form. While this stance is politically risky and unpopular with certain sections of the electorate, it is at least a clear, principled standâsomething that the NC has failed to provide.
The NC's hedging on this issue has only reinforced the notion that the party is willing to say one thing in Kashmir, but act in a way that ensures it does not antagonize the Jammu region or the larger national political environment. This is a clear example of political opportunismâseeking to appease different constituencies at the same time without taking a concrete position.
The Jammu-Kashmir Divide: NC's Dilemma
Another key aspect of the NCâs political maneuvering is its strategy in the Jammu region. While NC's base lies in Kashmir, the party understands that it cannot ignore the Jammu region, which is BJP-dominated and largely Hindu-majority. Despite their electoral setback in Jammu, the NC has been quick to offer the Deputy Chief Minister's position to a candidate from Jammu, signaling the importance of keeping the Jammu constituency on their side. NCâs willingness to accommodate independent candidates from Jammu in the cabinet reveals the party's understanding that no political party in Kashmir can afford to completely sideline Jammu. For any government in Kashmir to be viable, it must find a way to incorporate the diverse interests of Jammu and Kashmir's multiple regions.
However, this attempt to balance Jammu and Kashmirâs competing demands comes across as a political gimmickâone that does not reflect a deep commitment to either region's issues. The NC's eagerness to appease Jammu, while simultaneously championing Kashmir's special status, reflects a political party torn between conflicting interests and ideologies.
NCâs Criticism of PDP: A Convenient Rhetoric
The National Conference has been highly critical of the PDP's alliance with the BJP post-2014, accusing them of betraying Kashmir's interests by forming a coalition with a party that has consistently advocated for the revocation of Article 370. However, NC's own actions are equally questionable. While NC criticizes the PDP for compromising its ideological stance, it has also been willing to work with the BJP when politically necessary. In fact, in the past, the NC has been open to alliances with the BJP, most notably in 2014, when Farooq Abdullah briefly entertained the idea of an alliance with the BJP after their defeat in the elections. NC's moral high ground on this issue is thus incredibly fragile.
Conclusion: The National Conference's Political Opportunism
The National Conference has failed to rise above the political opportunism that has characterized much of its post-2014 behavior. Despite being the largest party in the 2024 assembly elections, the NC has shown a clear reluctance to take a principled stand on the most important issue facing Jammu and Kashmir: the abrogation of Article 370. Instead, they have opted for ambiguity, hoping to balance the interests of both their base in Kashmir and the political realities of Jammu. By failing to take a strong, unambiguous stance on the restoration of Article 370, NC has demonstrated that it is more interested in political survival than in upholding its founding principles.
In contrast, the PDP, despite its losses, has been clear about its position on Article 370, a position that is more consistent and firm than NCâs shifting sands. The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve clarity and consistency in leadership, but the National Conference's opportunistic approach only deepens their distrust. Until NC is willing to take a bold, principled stand on the issue of Article 370 and the future of Jammu and Kashmir, their credibility will remain in question, and their political fortunes will continue to be shaped by expediency rather than conviction.
