If democracy is only about voting and electing representatives, then Jammu and Kashmir is a perfect example of this reality. The fundamental principles of democracy have lost their significance across the entire Subcontinent, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Respecting votes, implementing transparent institutional policies, and upholding human rights seem distant aspirations. Electoral institutions may have some relevance in other states of India, but they have remained a distant dream in the Vale of Kashmir.

The National Conference’s inability to restore Article 370 reflects the eroding credibility of political promises in Jammu and Kashmir.

Jammu and Kashmir are small regions that have been treated like a colony since they appeared on the conflict map of the subcontinent. Thanks to the first secular leadership and current right-wing rulers of India.

Why should democracy be viewed differently in JK when no one dares challenge the rulers or electoral autocrats? Liberal democracies seem to be failing and are even seen as the perpetrators of curtailing human liberties, not to mention the small place of JK.

‘In the context of the historical political dispute of Jammu and Kashmir, the current ruling dispensation in the center desired to create the drama of farcical elections and elect representatives who do not even have the authority to fulfill the petty issues laid down in the election manifesto.

This is high time that the local ruling party must expose the Directors of this drama and tell the world how a region, once called a ‘Kingdom of Kashmir’ has been betrayed and managed since 1947 when it acceded to India on the condition of keeping its internal Sovereignty unchanged’, says Shahid Butt, a leading worker of the ruling National Conference who seems disgruntled on the timid approach of his leaders.

It is being felt with great intensity that the National Conference government looks incapacitated due to the region’s Union territory character. This leaves it with limited powers to solve the problems this party promised earlier, except that it can enjoy expensive cars or sit in the cozy rooms of the official workplace, the secretariat.

Who would determine if it does not want to do anything or finds itself stripped of its wings to do anything because, so far, important decisions have been the prerogative of LG Manoj Sinha, under whose control the entire administration still seems to be working?

Voters of the recent assembly elections were shocked that the National Conference government could not change the list of official holidays, which had dropped the holidays on the birthday of its founder and stalwart leader, Sheikh Abdullah. How could the party restore the dignity of the region? During the election campaign, it promised to restore Article 370 when it knew the State had been reduced to truncated territory.

The absence of holidays commemorating Sheikh Abdullah and Martyrs’ Day showcases the BJP’s influence over J&K’s historical narrative.

A few days ago, the JK administration released the list of official holidays, which the BJP’s Lieutenant Governor has prepared for the last five years and in which the holidays of Martyrs’ Day on July 13 and Sheikh Abdullah’s birthday on December 5 were dropped. It was hoped that these holidays would be restored after the formation of a democratic government, but despite the National Conference government, this was not done. Then, the NC dares to justify it by saying that Abdullah’s personality is much bigger than the holiday.

However, the public has reacted strongly, raising strong voices for the restoration of the July 13 holiday, which is emotionally attached to the political legacy of this historical dispute.

Seventy percent of the population who voted for the assembly were confident that Omar Abdullah’s government would at least restore the holiday of Martyrs’ Day by expressing his tough stance, which is not only associated with the Kashmir freedom struggle but also emotionally tied with the historical event when 22 unarmed civilians were shot dead during public protests against Maharaja Hari Singh and the foundation of the Kashmir freedom movement was laid on that day.

You may recall that on July 13, 1931, a declaration of war against the Dogra Maharaja’s despotic rule was launched, supported later by the then India’s National political party, the Indian National Congress, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru.

Since the partition and Instrument of Accession with India,  July 13 has been celebrated yearly as Martyrs’ Day and has been a public holiday in the calendar despite the objections of right-wing activists.

NC activists are no longer complaining that their party, the National Conference, could not restore Sheikh Abdullah’s birthday holiday but are deeply agitated that the party is not even offended by the distortion of our history, on which the party itself is based to this day.

Opposition party PDP leader Waheed Para says the National Conference cannot even dare assert its rights, be it on Article 370, restoring holidays, or rationalizing the reservation policy. The party has become paralyzed, watching the region’s destruction like a spectator.

‘The opposition political parties offered cooperation and requested a united front as our dignity and honour is at stake. The ruling party ignored it. We are demanding our rights within the ambit of our Constitution. Why are we treated as ‘others’?’ Says Waheed Parra.

Omar Abdullah’s press conference failed to address key voter demands, underscoring the region’s democratic disillusionment.

Many analysts predict internal differences have surfaced in the National Conference, as evidenced by the recent youth protests, which could lead to a possible split in the future. The party’s MP, Agha Ruhullah, participated in a demonstration with Open Merit students outside Omar Abdullah’s house on the controversial reservation issue.

Representatives of opposition parties were also present. Nobody from the ruling party joined the protest to show solidarity. It was an embarrassment for the ruling party when many arguments and counter-arguments surfaced among its members on social media.

Because of his strong commitment and representation of the majority’s aspirations, Member of Parliament Aga Ruhullah challenges NC leadership, especially Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on the demand for Art370.

During the electoral exercise, Aga Ruhullah was the star campaigner for NC, which had suffered badly in North Kashmir, where Omar Abdullah was a Parliamentary candidate and was expecting another defeat in assembly elections due to the party’s poor credibility and survival crisis. Aga Ruhullah worked hard and wooed people, especially youth, to vote for NC and Omar Abdullah.

National Conference Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was pressured to either take the initiative to demand political and constitutional rights from the Indian leadership or expose the hybrid system created by the BJP  so that the public would think about other options to get their political rights. Some even said that if former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal can go to jail for his people, then Omar Abdullah can at least expose the anti-Kashmir policies of the BJP government or resign from the government with dignity.

Given this pressure, Omar Abdullah called his first press conference a few days ago. It was unexpected of him to speak about trivial issues while ignoring the central plank of his election manifesto. He did not mention the restoration of Article 370, as people were waiting for him to speak about it. Instead, Omar Abdullah requested the central government to restore statehood. That was a signal to legitimize the stripping of JK’s internal autonomy.

His reference to Pakistan-administered Kashmir was too sarcastic. He asked the BJP government if it believes that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir has been resolved now and what its plan is for the other part of Kashmir. Political analysts called this point-scoring and irrelevant when people demanded the right to live with dignity and honor. His non-serious and insensitive approach towards voters was debated on social media platforms.

BJP claims to have buried J&K’s autonomy issue, leaving 14 million people voiceless and disempowered.

The press conference revealed his helplessness. He could not even assure his voters that he would fulfill his promise of giving free units of electricity to people experiencing poverty. People are losing faith not again in NC but in India’s electoral democracy.

BJP is gloating over the fact that it has not only buried the long-held dispute of JK, silenced Pakistan, and tamed the International community to shut up, but it has reduced the fourteen million population to non-entity who have no voice, no power, and no backing.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views, beliefs, or policies of the Stratheia.