Saturday GK Column: PDP Manifesto: Deliver or Perish How real the promises stand, only time would tell! DR. JAVID IQBAL SmallerDefaultLarger PDP manifesto bears Haseeb Drabu stamp. It is a document couched in the choicest political vocabulary and catchy economic terminology. Haseeb Drabu has mastered the art of weaving his take in finest fabric—silken smooth. The gloss is apparent, there is unmistakable substance, promises in plenty. Promises that PDP shall have to deliver, if they make it 44+, or perish a la other parties with promises sans delivery. Skepticism on PDP performance stays, even with likable individuals like Naeem Akhtar, multi-faceted Haseeb Drabu and fellow journalists—Zafar Meraj and Nayeema Mahjoor in ‘Team Mufti’. Difference with their polity relates to status quoist stance on political turf. Pronouncing self-rule might be easily done, to actualize it is a different ball game. Besides, sentiment of overwhelming majority goes beyond PDP’s self-styled, self-defined, self-rule. There is ample hope to realize what Kashmir aspires for, whatever the time it may take, as resistance shows no signs of melting. Polls, percentage of votes cast, electoral results have had absolutely no effect on it, the sentiment stays aloft. Self-rule was once Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s slogan in his heydays as parliamentarian with belief in constitutional reforms in early decades of 20th century. He was taken to be a moderate by British Raj. Secretary of state--Edwin S. Montague during the era of Montague-Chelmsford reforms praised his push for constitutional reforms in his treatise, ‘An Indian Diary’. However Quaid-e-Azam was hardly mollified by high praise, as Raj continued to resist constitutional reforms. Moderates, Quaid-e-Azam implied, remain risk prone, as Raj hardly concedes, what moderates could sell to public as meaningful. It is to be seen, whether Indian state would ever take PDP’s self-rule slogan seriously enough to be politically productive? An Urdu journalist of the era called self-rule ‘Hukumat-e-Khud Ikhtiyari’ Ikhtiyar translates to political empowerment. It is a tall call, PDP would be hard put to actualize. I may not be a PDP supporter, I cannot afford to be one, as it may take me away from objectivity and impartiality— defining traits for a columnist. Still, if PDP is to win this election, I would pray for 44+ for more reasons than one. The prime reason being to foreclose an escape. Coalition provides escape, as partners start blaming each other for errors of omission and commission. PDP should not have the escape route available. And accountability should be their fate from the word go. ‘Team Mufti’ would be watched without let or hindrance. The fate of their predecessors in power corridors should set the alarm bells ringing. Besides, the electorate is learning the tricks of trade, of ways and means to safeguard their day to day interests. While Kashmir’s political objective stays ahead of questioning merely the quantum of accession, it is on governance and economic turf that ‘Team Mufti’ will be tested the most. Governance reforms envisaged in PDP manifesto imply tackling corruption and improving performance. With PDP welcoming former bureaucrats with allegations of corruption against them and fielding them as candidates in electoral fray, and court sentence against General Secretary—Dilawar Mir, claim is hardly substantiated. It is admitted though that corruption is a malady deeply set, however a clean political executive might enhance accountability in bureaucratic set-up. Time would provide the answer, whether ‘Team Mufti’ would stay clean, were it to cross 44+. Promising autonomy to institutions that hold to account the mishaps by governing agencies, mainly politico-bureaucratic set-up would be tested, as exigencies take a heavy toll of the watch dogs-- State Accountability Commission and Vigilance Commission. Right to information has lost its sheen, as the original act was trimmed to suit exigencies. It is not as holistic, as the earlier version. JK Bank with RBI regulations is hardly the bank that made it an institution to bankroll state economy. JK Government has to look elsewhere for piloting the state in a cash crunch. Besides the bank could hardly be depended on to fuel the economy, primary purpose for establishing the bank with state government partnership. Business community of late has got into quite a few arguments with bank management. In one instance, which is hardly a secret, CM Omar Abdullah passed an acidic remark, calling in to question management’s role. How does PDP propose to restore the lost position of the bank, as promised, remains to be seen? As also vis-a-vis, the return of power projects, as per clause nine of Uri Power project, which reads, ‘The State Government may buy back the project or a part there, if and when it is in a position to do so, after paying the depreciated cost of the same’. GoI subsidiary NHPC has so far not lived up to this commitment. Last that was heard of it relates to two JK ministers knocking Power Ministry door in Delhi, and being asked to knock PM’s door. PDP might have to knock many doors in Delhi. And in case the plea remains unheard—what is PDP going to do? Civil society would be quite interested to know that, as also the public in general? Kashmir has developed a vibrant civil society over the years, if PDP wants to relate to civil society, as noted in manifesto, it would be taking cognizance of a reality. How real the promise stands, only time would tell? Yaar Zinda, Sohbat Baqi [Reunion is subordinate to survival] iqbal.javid46@gmail
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 02:52:14 +0000
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