“The government has invested significantly in crafting a narrative that suits its agenda in Kashmir including distorting historical facts and discrediting legitimate political voices”
Altaf Hussain Wani*
In democratic societies, the electoral process serves as the bedrock for expressing political preferences and selecting leaders without coercion or fear. However, the integrity of this process in Jammu and Kashmir has not matched the democratic strides seen elsewhere in India.
Beyond the Lakhanpur border, the promise of free and fair elections dissipates, submerged in a sea of allegations and discontent that questions the very democratic structure India proudly upholds.
Since the 1990s, the faith in democratic processes in Kashmir has sharply declined. Elections during this period have often been marred by accusations of coercion, where citizens, disenchanted with the system, were allegedly forced to participate in the electoral process.
India’s portrayal of these elections as a validation of its governance only deepened the mistrust among the Kashmiri populace, who increasingly viewed these exercises as superficial measures rather than genuine democratic engagement.
The presence of security forces meant to ensure safety and order during elections, has frequently been perceived as intimidating rather than protective.
Reports of voter intimidation by these forces or by political parties are commonplace, painting a grim picture of the electoral landscape. Moreover, tactics such as disenfranchisement and manipulation of electoral rolls have raised serious concerns about the inclusivity and fairness of the voting process.
This environment of fear and manipulation has effectively undermined the legitimacy of elections in the region, eroding trust not only in the electoral process but also in the broader democratic institutions supposed to uphold these values.
The scenario is further exacerbated by alleged pre-poll rigging and post-poll manipulations aimed at securing the victory of candidates favourable to New Delhi. Such practices cement the perception that the electoral process is merely a facade, crafted to legitimize control rather than to mirror the genuine will of the Kashmiri people.
The international community, including bodies like the US State Department and the European Union, alongside various human rights organizations, has frequently voiced concerns over these practices.
Electoral Gerrymanderiing or Pre-Poll Rigging
These external perspectives contribute to the ongoing debate about the integrity of the elections held in Kashmir, particularly at a crucial juncture when the political and electoral frameworks of the region have been tailored to benefit the ruling party in India.
In the run-up to the current Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, the Union Home Ministry, which now oversees the region, has been accused of engaging in electoral gerrymandering and reorganizing constituencies.
Such actions are seen as attempts to dilute the representative character of the elected assembly and boost the electoral prospects of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
These strategies, coupled with the granting of voting rights to non-Kashmiris, are indicative of a broader pattern of electoral engineering that undermines the democratic ethos.
Furthermore, the BJP government has invested significantly in crafting a narrative that suits its agenda in Kashmir. This includes distorting historical facts and discrediting legitimate political voices, which obscures the real issues and suppresses genuine political dissent.
The weaponization of politics, using divisive strategies such as playing communities against each other, has turned Kashmir into a region fraught with political tension.
The historical context of Kashmir’s elections, particularly the notorious elections of 1987, which many believe catalyzed the armed insurgency against Indian rule, highlights a pattern of democratic erosion.
The continued practice of installing unpopular governments through undemocratic means since as far back as 1951 has prevented the emergence of genuine leadership through fair democratic processes.
Since the revocation of Kashmir’s special status in 2019, the political landscape has become even more constrained.
The banning of prominent political voices and the stifling of opposition under controversial laws have skewed the political environment, overshadowing genuine representation with leadership imposed from afar.
This has only deepened the disillusionment among Kashmiris, who see their elected representatives as mere puppets of the central government.
As crucial state assembly elections loom, the concerns about electoral integrity persist.
Restrictions on political expression, interference in the electoral process, and voter intimidation remain significant hurdles. While high voter turnout is often showcased as evidence of normalcy and contentment among the populace, the reality speaks to a society grappling with political repression and manipulated electoral processes.
Managing Political Voice
The current approach to managing Kashmir’s political issues reflects a disregard for the genuine aspirations of its people.
Rather than fostering a climate of genuine political participation, the central government’s strategies have tended to maintain the status quo, which offers no real solutions to the long-standing grievances of the Kashmiri people.
The legacy of figures like Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, who once wielded significant influence in Kashmir, reminds us that real solutions require respecting the people’s will, not managing it for political ends.
The government must recognize that creating a facade of normalcy through undemocratic means is not sustainable.
True resolution in Kashmir will come not from superficial electoral exercises intended to placate international observers but from sincere engagement with the genuine aspirations of its people.
In conclusion, as Kashmir heads towards another electoral test, the integrity of its democratic processes remains under scrutiny.
The region’s future hinges not on the superficial markers of democracy but on the genuine empowerment of its people to shape their destiny through truly fair and free elections.
Only then can the long-standing issues of Kashmir be addressed in a manner that respects the rights and desires of its people, paving the way for lasting peace and stability.
*Altaf Hussain Wani is the chairman of the Islamabad-based think tank—the Kashmir Institute of International Relations. He can be reached by email at saleeemwani@hotmail.com.
—–
The post Mirage of Fair Elections: Unraveling Kashmir’s Electoral Dilemma first appeared on Kashmir Times (Since 1954): Multi-media web news platform..
The post Mirage of Fair Elections: Unraveling Kashmir’s Electoral Dilemma appeared first on Kashmir Times (Since 1954): Multi-media web news platform..