JKNDF is born

R K Mattoo 

The brain-child of the AIKS which was con­ceived at its Kolkata conclave in December last is born and has been christened as per KP traditions. Out of the five names given to a known KP astrologer in Delhi, he has carefully cho­sen J&K National Democratic Front (JKNDF) and the core committee has accepted it. Naming became necessary as it has to be taken forward to a point where it will be handed over to masses for adoption.

Interactions between Core Committee and community members mostly in Delhi, NCR and J&K reveals that the majority of the KPs want a political party of their own in the present changing political scenario to make the community relevant. The resounding success of scores of small and big meetings conducted with the community masses has given the core committee and all the volunteers strength to take this political child forward. There cannot be a second spontaneous and forceful move­ment like the one seen by the community in 1991-92. Ironically, our leaders failed to convert that political movement into a political action due to var­ious reasons. Therefore the Core Committee is now proceeding cautiously and hopes to once again ignite the spark and convert it into wild fire.

Interactive meetings also reveal that even the politically active members have registered a thought that a KP can never be politically relevant and should therefore survive by serving other politi­cal parties. This is somewhat similar to the pre­conceived notion that a KP can never be a good businessman or a technocrat. This myth has now been dispelled in the post exodus era i.e. after 1991. In a short span of time, the community has shown to the world that if given an opportunity, it can rule the world as businessmen and tech­nocrats. All along the community was suppressed by the majority community and deprived it of oppor­tunities.

Now the time has come when the community should unite under one political banner and speak in one voice. It should choose its own leader and give him a good team to compete with other politi­cal parties to emerge as a force to reckon with not only in the state of J&K but at Delhi level too. The community has seen that a mushroom number of organizations including PK factions, KSD, AIKS and ASKPC (who have been talking politically) have not been effective. Though these organizations have done a commendable job in the relief and rehabili­tation area, they failed in making any impression at the political level. With the result, the community continues to remain directionless due to the absence of a common political slogan and a politi­cal party of our own.

In the present changing political scenario, even a single vote or an (VIP, an ML A or a Corporater counts. Things were different in the pre-1990 when KPs had no other go but to fall in line with the majority community. It is not so now. The communi­ty lives in free conditions and realizes the value of a vote. Time has come to consolidate the young and old and give clarion signal to the nation.

While ASKPC office bearers have welcomed the idea and pledged its support to make the political party stronger in the days to come, the three fac­tions of PK have been discussing the matter inter­nally and may take some more time to spell out their stand. As for AIKS and KSD are concerned, the core committee need not approach them initially as the entire exercise has been taken at the behest of AIKS, the apex body of all the KP organizations in India and abroad. The KSD will have to fall in line with AIKS thinking in view of the recent friendship accord1 reached between the two organizations. The core committee is taking the new political party only to a point where it can be adopted by the masses and leaders chosen unanimously who will have acceptability in the community. It will be a combination of old and young. And this is all about the present exercise of the Core Committee. The principle is quite loud and clear: TRANSPARENCY, TRUST AND SINCERITY. 

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Courtesy:

R K Mattoo Editor Aalav - An Official Publication of Kashmiri Hindu Cultural Welfare Trust, Bengaluru, and  June 2007 Aalav