7.2.5. Insurgency and After

It was in this environment that the 1987 Assembly election took place. The official results showed a massive victory of the National Conference— Congress alliance and Farooq Abdullah returned as Chief Minister. But it was widely believed that the results did not reflect popular choice, and that the entire election process was rigged. A popular resentment had already been brewing in the State against the inefficient administration since early 1980s. This was now augmented by the commonly prevailing feeling that democratic processes were being undermined by the state at the behest of the Centre. This generated a political crisis in Kashmir which became severe with the rise of insurgency.

In the political atmosphere of Jammu and Kashmir during the late 1980s, the 1987 Assembly election results were perceived as manipulated, sparking widespread discontent. Many residents felt their voices were not heard, contributing to a feeling of alienation from the political process. This growing dissatisfaction was compounded by a belief that the Central government was undermining local democracy, resulting in a burgeoning political crisis that escalated into an armed insurgency seeking self-determination.

Imagine a scenario where a town is supposed to hold an election, but everyone knows the results are fixed. The community feels ignored and ignored, leading to protests and demands for change. Eventually, this tension can boil over into more drastic actions, similar to how local grievances in Kashmir manifested in an insurgency.

By 1989, the State had come in the grip of a militant movement mobilised around the cause of a separate Kashmiri nation. The insurgents got moral, material and military support from Pakistan. For a number of years the State was under President’s rule and effectively under the control of the armed forces. Throughout the period from 1990, Jammu and Kashmir experienced extraordinary violence at the hands of the insurgents and through army action. Assembly elections in the State were held only in 1996 in which the National Conference led by Farooq Abdullah came to power with a demand for regional autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir.

Starting in 1989, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir deteriorated as a militant movement emerged with the aim of establishing a separate nation. These groups received various types of support from Pakistan, which exacerbated the conflict. During this period, the state was frequently placed under President's rule, indicating significant government control and military presence in response to escalating violence. Assembly elections did not resume until 1996, when the National Conference, under Farooq Abdullah, campaigned for greater autonomy, signaling attempts to address local aspirations despite the tumultuous backdrop.

Think of a sports team that suddenly goes rogue, demanding their own league. The original league tries to control the situation with strict rules, but the rogue team continues to gain support from outside sources, making the situation even more chaotic. In this analogy, the team represents the insurgents, while the league represents the state government struggling to maintain order.

At the end of its term, elections were held in the State in 2002. The National Conference failed to win a majority and was replaced by a coalition government of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Congress. As per the coalition agreement, Mufti Mohammed headed the government for the first three years succeeded by Ghulam Nabi Azad. The next election was held in November-December 2008. Another coalition government (composed of NC and INC) came into power headed by Omar Abdullah in 2009. However, the state continued to witness disturbances led by the Hurriyat Conference.

In 2002, the election results in Jammu and Kashmir marked the end of National Conference's dominance, leading to a new coalition government formed by the People’s Democratic Party and Congress. The new leadership was tasked with tackling ongoing issues stemming from the insurgency, including public discontent and the need for effective governance. Despite various coalition governments in subsequent years, unrest persisted, primarily fueled by groups like the Hurriyat Conference, which challenged the central authority and advocated for Kashmir’s right to self-determination.

Imagine a company restructuring after a management crisis. New leaders are brought in to steer the organization towards better performance, but the tension from previous conflicts still affects employee morale. This situation is similar to Jammu and Kashmir, where new political arrangements aimed to bring stability, but lingering issues from past unrest continued to spark disturbances.

The state went into another election, which recorded the highest voters’ turnout in 25 years. Consequently, a coalition government led by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed of the PDP came into power with the BJP as its partner. After Mufti Mohammed Sayeed died, his daughter Mahbooba Mufti became the first woman Chief Minister of the state in April 2016. During the tenure of Mahbooba Mufti, major acts of terrorism, mounting external and internal tensions were witnessed. The President’s rule was imposed in June 2018 after BJP withdrew its support to the Mufti government. On 5 August 2019, Article 370 was abolished by the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019 and the state was constituted into two Union Territories.

In a significant turn of events, a subsequent election in 2014 saw high public participation, leading to the formation of a coalition government between the PDP and BJP, highlighting a desire for engagement and representation within the region. However, political instability continued, culminating in the imposition of President's rule and the controversial abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and reorganized it into Union Territories, drastically altering its political landscape and autonomy.

Think of a city that undergoes major restructurings, like merging with a larger metropolitan area and losing its local governance. While some residents may welcome the change for potential growth and resources, others feel a loss of identity and autonomy, similar to how the changes in Jammu and Kashmir sparked mixed reactions among its people.

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