A Political Spectacle of Broken Promises
Ubaid Mehdi
The people of Jammu and Kashmir are not props in a political drama, yet leaders treat them as spectators in a cruel spectacle. Since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, politics has been a cycle of promises, pledges, and betrayals. From the National Conference (NC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Apni Party, People’s Conference, and others, every faction has sold dreams of dignity and rights to secure votes. For the ordinary Kashmiri, the reality is stark: trust exploited, hopes dashed, and lives unchanged amidst power plays.
The revocation of Article 370 was a seismic shift, stripping J&K of its special status. In response, parties formed the “Gupkar Alliance” in 2020, a supposed united front for autonomy and identity. Kashmiris, yearning for representation, placed their faith in this coalition during the District Development Council polls. But the alliance soon collapsed under egos and opportunism, leaving voters betrayed.
In 2024, the script repeated. The NC swept the assembly elections with promises of restored statehood, revival of Articles 370 and 35A, 200 units of free electricity, 12 LPG cylinders, 100,000 jobs, and free rations for Antyodaya Anna Yojana beneficiaries. These were lifelines for people battling 18.3% unemployment and soaring costs. Yet, by September 2025, none are delivered. No statehood. No jobs. No relief in electricity or rations. Omar Abdullah, once a critic of broken promises, now presides over silence and inaction.
Instead of delivery, politics is consumed by infighting. The NC spars with the BJP, the PDP seeks space, and independents scatter. Governance takes a backseat. In Anantnag, residents boil contaminated water because the Jal Shakti Department ignores them. In Bandipora, Rs 132 crore meant for water schemes has disappeared into bureaucratic black holes. Villages like Gundgulshaikh and Tulail went without clean water for weeks. A dead animal found in a Bandipora drinking pipe in January 2025 exposed the negligence, yet no accountability followed.
The promised jobs are a mirage. Youth despair grows as opportunities shrink. The Antyodaya ration scheme, meant to feed the poorest, is riddled with mismanagement, forcing families to beg for what was promised free.
This betrayal is not new. For decades, leaders have distracted people with symbolic battles—over land, religion, and autonomy—while dodging real accountability. The Public Safety Act (PSA), once meant to curb timber smuggling, is now used to silence voices. In Doda, MLA Mehraj Malik was slapped with PSA detention for a crude online rant, proving that even elected representatives can be caged. Yet, corruption thrives untouched. A 2023 Anti-Corruption Bureau report flagged 1,200 pending cases tied to siphoned funds, but the PSA never reaches the corrupt. The message is clear: protest, and you are punished; loot, and you are protected.
Kashmiris are weary of this charade. Their votes in 2024, cast with hope, now feel like tickets to a rigged show. When will the NC deliver on statehood or jobs? When will the PDP prioritize clean water over posturing? When will leaders address Srinagar’s broken roads, Bandipora’s contaminated springs, or Anantnag’s jobless youth? The gulf between promises and reality is a chasm.
The Assembly must act if it has any credibility. Summon Omar Abdullah and demand timelines for pledges. Question the Jal Shakti Department, which ignores even MLAs. Investigate stalled funds, collapsing infrastructure, and unchecked corruption. Kashmiris are not pawns in a game of thrones; they are citizens with rights to water, jobs, and dignity. Their patience is fraying, their trust eroding.
This spectacle must end. Leaders who cannot honor their word should step aside. Kashmir’s future demands action—clean water, real jobs, restored statehood—not another act in this tired, deceitful play. Until then, the people remain betrayed, their voices drowned in the noise of a political stage that serves only those on it.
