Everybody agrees that it is imperative to have free and fair elections in
Jammu and Kashmir
. How should it be made free and fair? How could the faith of the Kashmiris be regained in the election process and in the Election Commission of India?
International Observation
International observation of election process would increase the credibility of elections and would strengthen the democratic process in the state. The case for international observation has been argued earlier (Elections in Kashmir – II: An Argument for International Observation).
Involve NGOs and Human Rights Organizations inside
India
A number of non-governmental and human rights organizations acceptable to the Kashmiris and the Indian government could also be involved in the election process. These organizations or human rights activists could be given observer status and provided access by the Election Commission of India. If the government is averse to involving human rights organizations, individuals of high reputation at the state and national levels could be asked to observe the elections. The following names could be suggested in this behalf: Tapan Bose, Kuldip Nayar, DR Kaarthikeyan, Muchkund Dubey – all these personalities have a high reputation and should be acceptable to all concerned parties. Tapan Bose, it might be recalled, was a part of the Election Commission that was announced by the Hurriyat Conference.
Elections under President’s Rule
There is a widespread belief that the NC would involve in rigging and unfair practices in the forthcoming elections; hence, it is better to have President’s rule proclaimed in the State and elections conducted thereafter. The Union government should reach an understanding with the NC on this issue and conduct the lections under the President’s rule. Though it would be the same Election Commission that would be conducting the elections, whether under President’s rule or otherwise, psychologically it would remove fears about rigging.
Don’t Compel to Vote
It is essential to respect the decision not to vote. During the last elections, the security forces compelled people to vote. The unofficial argument of the government was that the security forces only asked people to vote, since they were threatened by the militants not to vote. Whether there is logic in this argument or not, this led to criticism by the Kashmiris that they were forced to vote. One can understand the government’s zeal to produce a better turnout, as that would indicate the return of normalcy in the state and rejection of militancy. The government should avoid this during the forthcoming elections. What is necessary at this juncture for the future of
Kashmir
is to increase the people’s faith in the electoral process. It is better to have a low voter turnout, which would be credible, than forcing its increase, giving room to question the credibility of the entire process.
Curbing Militancy through Increased Patrolling
It is also important for the security forces to be alert and prevent militant attacks that would have serious political implications. As in the past, the militants are likely to carry out attacks on the minority communities, especially the Pandits and Sikhs. The objective would be to communally polarize society and keep the minority community away from the polls. It should be remembered that after the Wandhama massacre in 1998, before the parliamentary elections, the pandits threatened to boycott the elections. The militants could pursue the same strategy in the forthcoming elections; hence, it is essential to provide extra security to select villages where the minorities may be the targets.
The militants are also sure to target those who are contesting. They should be provided greater security along with those leaders who would be potential targets. The assassination of Abdul Ghani Lone was aimed to derail any effective role that he would play in the forthcoming elections and it was criminal negligence on the part of the state police to provide such inadequate security to him and let his assassins get away.
During the recent tensions between
India
and
Pakistan
,
India
has increased the level of its troops along the border. It is better to keep this build up intact, till the elections are over in
Jammu and Kashmir
.
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