Modi’s J&K visit should boost development
Expectations are running high with regard to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to Jammu & Kashmir over this weekend. The mega financial assistance package that he is expected to announce during his trip is, of course, being discussed at length, but beyond that, it will be interesting to see how his visit enlivens the State's political atmosphere. The BJP-PDP alliance has now been at the helm long enough to overcome its initial teething troubles and get down to the serious business of governance. Still, the challenges stemming from the unusual alliance between the two parties haven't completely dissipated, even though the partners seem to have found a comfortable dynamic between themselves. In the more than eight months since the BJP-PDP Government was sworn into office, it has faced a host of controversies that have led the public to question if the two partners are on the same page. Also, there have been concerns that the BJP, which is still a relatively new political force in the State, is being muscled out of key Government positions and portfolios by the PDP. This has led to considerable disappointment in Jammu, which voted for the BJP in overwhelming numbers and had hoped that the party would be able to get it a better deal within the State's valley-centric power structures. Though it is unfair to expect that the BJP would be able to deliver on these changes overnight, still, the degree of public discontent could be gauged from the AIIMS controversy which boiled over to the streets of Jammu. Moreover, the public has also not been fully satisfied with the State Government's working relationship with the Centre — for example, despite the BJP-connect, much of the aid money that had been promised after the devastating floods of 2014 hasn't yet come through. In this context, it is possible that any additional promise of aid will be met with some degree of scepticism. Prime Minister Modi can play a role in better balancing each of these equations. He must use the full weight of his office and his stature within Indian polity to bring all stakeholders on the same page and ensure that they remain committed to the larger goal: Good governance and development in Jammu & Kashmir.
Outside the political arena, it will be interesting to see if the Prime Minister, who enjoys significant support from the youth in other parts of the country, can also bring the young people of Jammu & Kashmir, particularly from the valley, on board. Today, Kashmir is surely more peaceful than it was at the height of the insurgency, but let us not forget that today's youth were raised in the years of peak militancy. A long-term, comprehensive socio-economic and political approach is necessary in this case; but for now, a good starting point is fast-paced economic development that will create jobs and improve standards of living. Another area of immediate focus has to be improvement of the security situation, especially along the line of Control, which has deteriorated significantly in recent times. In this context, the Prime Minister's comments on the resolution of the Kashmir dispute will be given close attention. But the real test will be counter-terrorism on the ground. This is where the State Government will have to pull its weight.