While the world seems to be grappled in the news of terrorist acts from Australia to Pakistan to France –well not to exclude India, for it has always been an ‘integral’ part! , couple of events in the past one month certainly deserve mention – and applause. I am talking about the elections in Jammu & Kashmir, and Sri Lanka. While they are seemingly unrelated outwardly, they communicate a message together, if you look closely. The dissimilarities being –one is a state under the Indian Federation (well, it is!!!) and other is a sovereign nation. So otherwise, there could have been no comparison, but for the overwhelming similarities. For one, both have been affected by one of the most violent conflicts in the world. Both have significant minority population, the origin of conflicts in both the places is the failure of ballot and lastly, both are of significant geo-strategic importance to India.
Let’s look at each of them.
Jammu & Kashmir recorded one of the highest voter turnout in its history (and I am sure it must be in the top 10 of all the states in India) for the assembly polls. It was almost twice the numbers in last elections. In fact, J&K polling percentage is significantly higher than Maharashtra, the most ‘advanced’ state in the country! The reasons are varied. Some voted for development, some for Modi. Some to bring the ‘Hindu’ BJP in power, while some to keep the same ‘Hindu’ BJP out of power! Irrespective of the reasons, it is significant that the people of a state that was marred in conflicts and violence have chosen the path of ‘ballot’ to convey their message. The Hurriyat or other separatist groups, though opposing the election process outwardly, encouraged people to vote in numbers, just to keep the BJP out of power! Well unknowingly (or out of compulsion of the Modi juggernaut) they have accepted the validity of the electoral process in J&K! There is no going back on that, for sure! Incidentally it was the failure of the same ‘ballot’ that led to the bullet culture in J&K, apart from the instrumental role played by Pakistan. The results have been even more interesting. The BJP which wanted to form a government on its own, cannot do so without the support of one of the regional parties. PDP possibly can. But is toothless without the central ‘cooperation’, which obviously will depend on BJP’s inclusion in the government. Irrespective of ‘how’ the government is formed, there are 2 takeaways. One, the minority (Kashmiri Pundits here) have spoken – and spoken in a manner that not only has made their representation in the government necessary, but forced the valley to accept the validity of the electoral process! Second – Pakistan has been left with a role of a mere ‘observer’ in this process! Irrespective of the ‘government’ that is formed, the voices of the majority and the minority are heard and define the way they are governed. Conclusively, for its own reasons, Ballot has won over bullets.
Sri Lankan elections are a little different. It was the first election after the fall of LTTE and the end to the violent conflict. Summarily speaking, the power has transferred from one party to another, both ‘pro Sinhalese’. But the statistics show that the Tamil votes have been a significant game changer. So the ethnic minority that has been at loggerheads with the government has facilitated a political change. The new government and all subsequent ones will have to take the ‘minority’ factor into consideration going forward. Incidentally it was the LTTE call for boycott that enabled Rajapaksa to win by slender margin in the last elections. How this positively affects the Tamil population, remains to be seen. But a change has been affected for sure, again underlining the importance of ballot over bullet. And of course, the elements that supported bullet, have been left to the fringe as mere ‘observers’.
Not to mention, India is ‘positively’ affected by both the developments. While J&K was an Indian territory that was being troubled by pro-Pakistan elements, Sri Lanka holds geo-strategic importance. Peace and stability at both the places is of pivotal importance to India. The outcome in Kashmir can help contain the ‘Pakistani’ influence in the state ,while that in Sri Lanka can help us limit the Chinese ( and to an extent Pakistani) involvement. But irrespective of these, the most important outcome is the realization by the populace that they can positively affect change without the need of ‘bullets’.
This is a message to all those involved in violent conflicts around the world- the separatists in Kashmir, Palestinians, the Jihadist, and ISIS, IRS, Maoists in India and others across the globe. Ballots can make a difference-sooner or later. The question is – Do you really want the change.
Let’s look at each of them.
Jammu & Kashmir recorded one of the highest voter turnout in its history (and I am sure it must be in the top 10 of all the states in India) for the assembly polls. It was almost twice the numbers in last elections. In fact, J&K polling percentage is significantly higher than Maharashtra, the most ‘advanced’ state in the country! The reasons are varied. Some voted for development, some for Modi. Some to bring the ‘Hindu’ BJP in power, while some to keep the same ‘Hindu’ BJP out of power! Irrespective of the reasons, it is significant that the people of a state that was marred in conflicts and violence have chosen the path of ‘ballot’ to convey their message. The Hurriyat or other separatist groups, though opposing the election process outwardly, encouraged people to vote in numbers, just to keep the BJP out of power! Well unknowingly (or out of compulsion of the Modi juggernaut) they have accepted the validity of the electoral process in J&K! There is no going back on that, for sure! Incidentally it was the failure of the same ‘ballot’ that led to the bullet culture in J&K, apart from the instrumental role played by Pakistan. The results have been even more interesting. The BJP which wanted to form a government on its own, cannot do so without the support of one of the regional parties. PDP possibly can. But is toothless without the central ‘cooperation’, which obviously will depend on BJP’s inclusion in the government. Irrespective of ‘how’ the government is formed, there are 2 takeaways. One, the minority (Kashmiri Pundits here) have spoken – and spoken in a manner that not only has made their representation in the government necessary, but forced the valley to accept the validity of the electoral process! Second – Pakistan has been left with a role of a mere ‘observer’ in this process! Irrespective of the ‘government’ that is formed, the voices of the majority and the minority are heard and define the way they are governed. Conclusively, for its own reasons, Ballot has won over bullets.
Sri Lankan elections are a little different. It was the first election after the fall of LTTE and the end to the violent conflict. Summarily speaking, the power has transferred from one party to another, both ‘pro Sinhalese’. But the statistics show that the Tamil votes have been a significant game changer. So the ethnic minority that has been at loggerheads with the government has facilitated a political change. The new government and all subsequent ones will have to take the ‘minority’ factor into consideration going forward. Incidentally it was the LTTE call for boycott that enabled Rajapaksa to win by slender margin in the last elections. How this positively affects the Tamil population, remains to be seen. But a change has been affected for sure, again underlining the importance of ballot over bullet. And of course, the elements that supported bullet, have been left to the fringe as mere ‘observers’.
Not to mention, India is ‘positively’ affected by both the developments. While J&K was an Indian territory that was being troubled by pro-Pakistan elements, Sri Lanka holds geo-strategic importance. Peace and stability at both the places is of pivotal importance to India. The outcome in Kashmir can help contain the ‘Pakistani’ influence in the state ,while that in Sri Lanka can help us limit the Chinese ( and to an extent Pakistani) involvement. But irrespective of these, the most important outcome is the realization by the populace that they can positively affect change without the need of ‘bullets’.
This is a message to all those involved in violent conflicts around the world- the separatists in Kashmir, Palestinians, the Jihadist, and ISIS, IRS, Maoists in India and others across the globe. Ballots can make a difference-sooner or later. The question is – Do you really want the change.
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