Recent remarks by Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge in Kashmir have sparked controversy. Kharge stated that a Congress victory in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections would enable the party to stake its 'claim' on the rest of the country. This statement reflects what many critics describe as the Congress' 'kabza' (usurper) mindset, a perception of the party's approach to power and governance throughout its history.
From the imposition of the Emergency in 1975, which severely weakened democratic institutions, to the centralization of power under Congress-led governments, the party has often faced criticism for its authoritarian tendencies. Critics point to the imposition of Article 370 and Article 35A in Jammu and Kashmir as examples of this approach. These articles, which granted special status to the state, were seen by many as a means of maintaining control over the region to appease certain vote banks.
The party's reluctance to remove these articles, even when they were seen as promoting separatism and militancy, reflects a broader strategy of using such provisions to maintain control over volatile regions. Kharge's remarks also bear an uncanny resemblance to the operations of the Waqf Board in India. The Waqf Board, a statutory body managing Muslim religious and charitable endowments, is often accused of land grabbing under the guise of religious authority.
This practice of acquiring large tracts of land and properties for the benefit of a select few mirrors the Congress party's broader strategy of usurping resources and power to serve its own interests and those of its vote banks. Just as the Waqf Board's activities have been criticized for their lack of transparency and accountability, the Congress party's governance approach has often been characterized by a lack of transparency and a focus on serving specific communities to secure electoral victories.
Many experts and historians believe that the Congress party's track record on national security, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, has been poor. Under successive Congress-led central governments, the region saw a rise in militancy, with militants and separatists often receiving a free hand. The party's alliance with the National Conference, a regional party with a history of supporting separatist causes, further exacerbated the situation. The soft approach to militancy during the UPA government's tenure is frequently cited as a factor in the rise of terrorist activities in the region.
Kharge's comments, therefore, are not just about winning elections in Jammu and Kashmir; they also serve as a reminder of the Congress' willingness to compromise national security for political gain. By rekindling the debate on Articles 370 and 35A, the Congress party risks jeopardizing the hard-earned peace and stability in the region for electoral advantage.
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