Jammu, June 22: Swords are out in J&K political arena with the adversaries baying for each other’s ‘blood’- well in anticipation of an electoral battle - which may (or may not) take place soon.

Verbal punches are being delivered as the shadow-boxing has intensified among mainstream politicians over the issue which has (perhaps temporarily) flipped the dominating agenda- the pivot of Kashmir politics for decades. J&K BJP is gleefully hinting at it.

Protest for J&K statehood restoration is the latest political currency being spent, traded and negotiated to win back ‘the ruled’ and their goodwill.

Though the clamour supporting the demand has always been there since 2019 yet much hyped “Dachigam declaration” of the National Conference to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar on the opening day of Monsoon session of the Parliament seeking it (statehood) has added a new zing to it.

Twists and turns thereafter have spiced up the ambience.

Political churning began well immediately after the “Dachigam agenda” was made public with NC’s political adversaries aiming barbs at it.

Though almost all the political opponents, mainly the BJP and PDP, were unsparing in their verbal offensive against the NC and the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who presided over the meeting yet the most acerbic remarks came from the Peoples Conference supremo Sajad Lone as usual.

In fact, Lone was at his best while aiming barbs at NC even well before the “huddle” outcome was shared.

Sample this: “So this is the bombshell threatened by CM sahib. Tourist to the core. A trip to the scenic and beautiful Dachigam….It is secluded, isolated, entry is restricted. That actually sums up the state of the present government. Aloof, secluded, isolated and entry restricted.” 

With reference to the Chief Minister’s oft-quoted remark of “…bursting like a cloud..”, Lone maintained momentum well after the (Dachigam) meeting was over.

He has precisely dismissed the entire NC exercise and decision taken there to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar as “a damp squib.”

“…So the NC version of a bombshell announcement is that they will sit on a protest at Jantar Mantar. I can understand protest. But where is the bombshell? I had thought CM sahib will do something innovative that will shake the corridors of power in Delhi…. This looks more like a chocolate way of throwing a tantrum, than a bombshell as threatened by CM sahib, a few weeks back. I have to say CM sahib is the most uncreative person I have come across. What a Damp squib! What an underwhelming outcome of so grand a threat,” was Lone’s offensive.

He had minced no words in saying that the decision for Jantar Mantar protest to seek statehood was “yet another attempt to divert attention from their (NC’s) failures; from lies of the election manifesto and yet another attempt at sob stories.” 

Initially after the ‘Dachigam huddle’, the NC chief spokesperson and other senior leaders in their official statements hinted at inviting all political parties to join the move (legislators’ protest) in the union capital. Days after- came the party president’s blunt declaration of “not inviting any political party from J&K to join NC protest in Delhi.”

“Whoever wants to join the protest can do so. We are not going to anyone with a bowl,” was the assertion of former Chief Minister and NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah.

Co-incidence or not, this statement came on a day the Chief Minister met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the union capital reiterating “the demand for restoration of statehood.”

No wonder, it provided fresh ammunition to adversaries and this time, the J&K BJP had the sharpest arsenal to target NC’s top leadership.

Leader of the Opposition in J&K Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma asserted that the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s meeting with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to greet him on successful completion of 12 years of his government was an in-direct endorsement of central government’s policies, including the abrogation of Article 370.

“We’re glad that the first person from J&K who personally met the Prime Minister and greeted him on his achievements during 12 years - was the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. However, these policies and decisions (of the central government) also included the policies and decisions related to J&K including abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A, demolition of Pak narrative. It meant that the Chief Minister indirectly admitted that the decisions of PM Modi about J&K were correct and the policies successful and in the interest of J&K and the country,” LoP pointed out.

His line of argument was that CM Omar sought restoration of statehood from the Prime Minister. It, too, indicated that they (NC) were befooling people of Kashmir in the name of Article 370.

“Their double-speak was further exposed as after the Dachigam huddle, they had talked about taking along all J&K parties. But I was surprised to see NC president Farooq Sahib saying that he did not need any political party and they wouldn't invite them to join the NC protest at Jantar Mantar to seek statehood. This happened after (on the day) his son and CM Omar met the PM seeking statehood,” Sunil Sharma maintained.

“They know and they have realised finally that statehood will come from the PM. Keep watching – by the opening day of Monsoon session, they (NC), themselves, will say – we don’t need to ask for statehood. It will come for sure as it is BJP’s commitment; it is the PM's commitment,” LoP said. His assertion was that the National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah’s changed stance vis-à-vis not inviting any political party (from J&K) to join party legislators’ proposed protest at Jantar Mantar was “NC’s climbdown from Article 370 to statehood - on a day the Chief Minister met the Prime Minister.”

The NC leadership has so far remained unfazed although the opposition is going full throttle against it. 

“Yes, our decision regarding protest at Jantar Mantar to seek statehood remains unchanged,” was the assertion of the Chief Minister in response to media queries about the opposition’s unrelenting criticism of NC.

Intriguing stance in the fast-evolving political situation is that of the alliance partner – J&K Congress unit.

Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Tariq Hameed Karra, while hinting at the proposed protest of National Conference (NC) at Jantar Mantar, recently described it as a matter of pride that finally “everyone was aligning with the Congress’ agenda on J&K statehood.”

He pointed out that it was Congress, which gave call for “Srinagar Chalo”, “Jammu Chalo” or “Dilli (Delhi) Chalo” as a part of party’s relentless movement (Hamari Riyasat, Hamara Haq), started one—and-a-half-year ago, to seek restoration of statehood.

“That time, we had invited everyone to join our statehood movement asserting that it was not only Congress’ movement or that of its leaders but a movement of J&K’s 1.40 Cr people, comprising all – Congress, BJP, NC, PDP. But then they did not join Congress’ movement. Today if they reached the same point flagging the same issue, earlier raised by Congress – for us, it’s a matter of pleasure and pride for us that they all are rallying around the same point and in similar fashion,” he affirmed.

In the same breath, he suggested that they might have some compulsion behind not joining Congress’ movement that time.

On the face of it, it was an innocuous remark or observation yet it left ample scope for political observers to figure out an oblique dig.