What exactly is Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah's intent? Why is he, thus far verging on the excessively agreeable in his relations with the Centre, suddenly confrontational? These seemingly psychological conundrums must be answered if one is to hazard any reading of the debate on autonomy initiated by him this week in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly. (It is, of course, an entirely different matter that Abdullah's vociferous pronouncements provoke chilling forebodings.) Two interpretations have been offered for Abdullah's sudden vehemence.One, he is worried about his vote garnering appeal in the forthcoming assembly elections. Unresponsive governance and lack of imagination have served as leitmotifs in successive administrations in Srinagar; public perception about Abdullah's latest stint in power has unfortunately been no different. So, goes the argument, he is merely fabricating a rallying point - as much to enthuse his National Conference party members as to construct an electoral platform to facilitate re-election a year hence.That may be. It is equally evident that there is a second dynamic at work; with a gathering swirl of hints and rumours indicating serious confabulations between the Government of India and separatist formations like the Hurriyat Conference, Abdullah would like to emphasise his integral role in any discussions on a political settlement. In a perfect world, Abdullah's somewhat escalatory tactics would be forgiveable - many politicians before him have resorted to obfuscating issues before the electorate as well as throwing tantrums at the prospect of doubtful relevance. But the Chief Minister is surely seized of the need for maturity and tact if his state has to be rescued from its far too long lost decade.Yes, autonomy is a legitimate demand of the Kashmiris; its scope in the current context may be debatable but its historical relevance cannot be doubted. But by riding roughshod over all dissenting voices within Jammu and Kashmir and without, and by appearing so contrary to his normally consensual self, Abdullah has not served his people's cause well. Charitable analysts say he means well, that he is merely voicing a point of view and will not let affairs drift into chaos; but one cannot emphasise enough that any initiative that carries the seeds of further strife cannot be tolerated.The consequences are already fructifying. While opposition parties like the BJP and the Congress and Kashmiri groups like the Hurriyat have rightly condemned the unilateral decision to initiate a special debate, agitations in areas like Ladakh are more worrisome. The biggest challenge in stepping, no matter how slowly, towards a solution to the Kashmir problem is carrying along various shades of opinion.Surely, Farooq must have been aware that any demand for wide-ranging autonomy would threaten the populations of Ladakh and Jammu. Indeed, his party may declare that it holds the territorial integrity of the state dear, but surely it is clear that the National Conference's new rallying point would only make demands for trifurcation more shrill.
