Last-ditch Effort
The Congress’s wretched attempt to brighten its prospects in Uttar Pradesh, where it has been out of power for a straight 27 years, with Brahmin face Sheila Dikshit is, to say the least, amusing (The Last of Sheila, You Said?). Dislodging the young and energetic Akhilesh Yadav as chief minister is unlikely as is shaking Mayawati’s support among Dalits. The BJP too has prospects in certain constituencies with upper caste and nonYadav backward caste presence. Dikshit, therefore, seems more like a fall gal than a valid opponent. Appointing Sheila Dikshit as UP’s chief ministerial candidate is a clear backtracking by Rahul Gandhi from his stated advocacy of youth in active politics. Wielding the caste card, it seems, is the only means of heading into elections in UP—a trend the SP and BSP have long perfected. Dikshit’s curious appointment looks like an exercise in finding a scapegoat for Congress’s almost certain failure in UP.
Not Just J&K’s Cross to Bear
To put a stop to the cycle of suffering in Jammu and Kashmir, we need to ensure that the wily politics of ‘selfdetermination’ doesn’t get the better of us (Behind the Wires). The only language that Pakistan understands is one of force, and friendly gestures on our part are only abused by their leadership. We have to convince the people of J&K of our sincerity of purpose and establish mutual trust while isolating separatists and biased leaders. Let’s also stop bashing the Army, which performs a thankless job in a hostile environment. In the aftermath of the Burhan Wani killing, it appears that the state in Kashmir is represented by the security forces, with the political dispensation in hiding. Young Kashmiris are aware of world affairs and their repercussions on the strifetorn state. If the current situation of perpetual unrest is allowed to continue, the outcome could be only a further burgeoning of jihadi groups. To arrest that slide, democratic nationalism in Kashmir will be required to explore constitutional options so far considered taboo. Kashmir is not a battleground for India and Pakistan to score individual advantage.