With the people going to vote in the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Election 2024,  a paradigm shift in the politics of the union territory has been noticed, which may be considered to be an important achievement of the election process itself, irrespective of who wins the polls. While the abrogation of Article 370 is not an electoral issue despite the rhetoric created around it, the leaders of separatist and Islamist outfit Jamaat-e-Islami, who have joined the electoral foray as independents, raised the issues of unemployment and price-rise rather than referendum.

Engineer Rashid Taunts Farooq Abdullah On Article 370

Though Engineer Rashid of the Awami Ittehad Party has declared to follow Rahul Gandhi if he restores Article 370, the issue could not create a buzz. Speaking at a campaign rally, he said, “If Rahul Gandhi promises that after coming to power, even after 50 years, he will bring a Bill to restore Article 370, I will follow them.”

Upping the ante against his main rival, the militant-turned-politician asked sarcastically, “Once Farooq Abdullah said he would use the Gandhian way to get Article 370 back. Did he ever have a hunger strike for one day?” 

No Takers For Abrogation Of Article 370

However, both of the leaders have refused to get trapped in the rhetoric and emphasized the restoration of the statehood of the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir. Though they have slammed the BJP for abrogation of Article 370, they have not raked up the issue or made it a high-octane campaign tool. 

Self Determination No Issue

Though the AIP leader has said that government formation is a very petty issue, the larger issue for him is the resolution of the Kashmir issue, he has emphasized that he would take up the issue out of Kashmir, to Delhi. He has not talked about the referendum or right of self-determination, or engaging the militants, etc. 

Shift In People’s Mood

The civil engineer-turned-politician has acknowledged a shift in the people’s mood as more Kashmiris are now willing to participate in the electoral process. However, he refuses to attribute this to positive development by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Earlier, he has been accused of being a proxy for the BJP and union government’s decision to release him just before the assembly election was questioned.

AIP has promised that it would work to revoke the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. However, many mainstream parties have criticized the draconian law.

Ex-Separatists Talk About Unemployment

The change in the mood in Jammu-Kashmir can be gauged by the announcement made by Jammu and Kashmir United Movement president, Ishfaq Jabbar. Declaring that unemployment is his top priority, Ishfaq came out with a detailed plan to integrate youth into projects like the Central University, New Ganderbal Powerhouse, and the Zojila Tunnel project. He also announced to holding a job fair in Ganderbal to connect local youth with multinational companies.

Jamaat-e-Islami too has raised the issue of unemployment and the backwardness of the state. Once regarded as a separatist outfit, Jamaat held its first election rally for independent candidates, who were its leaders in Kulgam, it leaders talked about the issues of unemployment, drug addiction, and “the bright future of Kashmir”.

Jamaat Reaches Out To Kashmiri Pandits

Jamaat spokesperson Shamim Ahmad Thokar went up to the extent of raising the issue of the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits. He said, “We equally express our wish for them (Pandits) to return to Kashmir. We are ready to offer them protection. Kashmiri Pandits have their home and houses here.”

No One Talks About Hurriyat Conference

It is interesting to recall that Jamaat was a constituent of the separatist umbrella outfit Hurriyat Conference in the past three decades and stayed away from the electoral process and backed the separatists’ boycott calls.

Backed by Jamaat, independent candidate, Aijaz Mir, from Shopian’s Zainapora said that if he is elected, he would talk about Kashmir and Kashmiris. He emphasized to represent the aspirations of people in the Assembly.

Article 370, which was an emotive issue when it was abrogated, lost its shine in five years. There are no takers of this issue now. It has been taken up neither by the BJP which abrogated it nor by the National Conferences and the PDP, which vowed to fight to restore it. It has not been raked up even those who once vowed to fight against the Indian state.