Editorial
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| | Warning signal | | Growing frustration of jobless panchs & sarpanchs poses serious threat to tenuous peace on the ground | | Two recent incidents, at Poonch and Doda, not adequately covered by the urban-centric mass media, underline the simmering unrest resulting from the coalition government’s intriguing dithering over fulfilment of its commitment to empower panchayats and to make them viably functional. At the Poonch meeting, irate panchs threatened to resort to protest demonstrations over this issue while at Doda it took an ugly turn and angry panchs ransacked the office of additional district commissioner. For more than a year now the government has been dragging its feet and avoiding to enable elected panchayats to become functional. By now it is clear beyond doubt that the government’s reluctance is motivated by the partisan political interests of one of the two ruling parties, namely the National Conference. While the Congress has been making occasional noise to nudge its ally the NC remains unmoved.
As is well known, NC’s hesitation to take the next logical step after having held the panchayat polls after three decade long gap stems from its performance in the contest. The NC fared poorly in comparison to both, the Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). That is the main reason why the NC leadership is showing step-motherly attitude towards the panchs and sarpanchs. During the past over a year all sorts of inducements and tactics were employed to alter the poll outcome by inducing defection of elected panchs and sarpanchs. The fact that even after all this the NC is fearful of taking the next necessary step towards reviving panchayati raj system confirms that the ruling party has virtually lost interest in honouring its commitment.
While it might have been convenient to ignore this obligation for some time there are definite indications now of the situation getting out of the government’s hand if any more time is wasted. That was the message coming out of Poonch and Doda. At both places, elected panchs and sarpanchs expressed their frustration and gave sufficient warning of the situation taking a more serious turn. These are symptomatic incidents and are directly connected with the type of system and type of governance. Unless the government shows due response and overcomes self-inflicted inertia the situation could deteriorate with unimaginable consequences.
The atmosphere of hope and expectation generated by the panchayat polls marked by unprecedented voter participation across nook and corner of the state can boomerang. Euphoria generated by the polls and the drum beating over the conduct of this massive exercise, in the face of threat of terror and violence, can backfire if the aspirations aroused in the process are sought to be ignored. This phenomenon is widespread as the intense political activity around panchayat elections had generated tremendous excitement across the landscape. There are certain unavoidable imperatives flowing out of this exercise. Foremost of them being the need for empowerment of panchayats and providing financial resources for their satisfactory functioning. On both counts, the government, under the influence of the NC, has been dithering and producing one lame excuse after the other to justify inaction.
The choice now before the government is to either do what it ought to have done much earlier and put the panchayati raj on track as it should be or prepare for facing its inevitable consequences on the ground. Doda and Poonch are warning signals of what can follow. Added to the frustration of idle panchs and sarpanchs is the serious threat to their lives hanging over their heads particularly in the Kashmir Valley where some casualties have already occurred.
The situation seems to be getting messy with each passing day. It is strange that the NC leadership is so overwhelmed by its narrow interests and it has become unmindful of the gathering storm. Tenuous peace, being hailed as the coalition government’s (unearned) achievement, would not stand a chance to survive should the simmering unrest remain unattended for too long. |
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