“India se galti hui hai” (India has a made mistake) said Satya Pal Malik J&K governor on Wednesday, 3 October to a national daily ahead of the local body polls in the state. The governor said that India has alienated itself from Jammu and Kashmir through the “mistakes” it committed.
In an interview to The Indian Express, he also said that the India-Kashmir situation is not of one occupying the other and that India has mishandled the situation, in context of the friction between locals and the government.
“India se galti hui, India ne apni galtiyon se apne aap ko alien banaya. Occupation force ke taur pe India ko pesh kiya ja sakta hai, jo cheezein hui hain. Lekin Kashmir is not an occupied territory, apni marzi se hamare saath aaye hue hain” (India has made mistakes, and its mistakes have, in the process, alienated itself. Because of what has happened, India is being presented as an occupation force. But Kashmir is not an occupied territory, it came to us of its own free will.)Satya Pal Malik, J&K governor to The Indian Express
Article 35A Versus Elections
Over the years, the Kashmir crisis has only worsened with rising protests and political downfall in the state. The tumult over Article 370 which grants the state of Jammu and Kashmir a special status, and Article 35A relating to land-owning rules in the state, has been a major reason for disturbance in the Valley. Governor Malik suggested that the arguments on Article 35A should be deferred till an elected government is in power.
“I am not an elected representative but my stand is that arguments on 35A should be deferred until there is an elected government in power. But even in Himachal (Pradesh) and the (states of) North East, you cannot buy land. Ye kaun sa bada gunaah hai (How is this a major wrong)? These are issues raised due to political reasons.”Satya Pal Malik told The Indian Express.
After the PDP-BJP alliance fell through, talks between state political parties and the Centre has become a challenge. Malik said that his agenda is not to create a dialogue, but to create an environment that helps the Centre initiate talks with parties and Hurriyat, adding that they don’t demand Pakistan’s involvement.
“I don’t have the authority to start a political conversation with the Hurriyat but if they want to come and talk about anything else, my gates are open. I have respect for them but I cannot discuss any issue with them. Kashmir ke maamle mein toh Dilli hi baat karegi unse (only Delhi will discuss Kashmir with them).”Satya Pal Malik
The state of Jammu and Kashmir awaits local body elections on 8 October 2018, amid the political crisis and militancy situation.
Both the National Conference (NC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) had earlier announced that they will boycott the municipal elections and panchayat elections in the state. The governor back then had also told both the parties that it’s not the right time to take a position on Article 35A or Article 370.
(With inputs from The Indian Express.)
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