J&K Congress Chief Tariq Karra: Doors Open for Like-Minded Parties, Individuals to Forge Anti-BJP Alliance
SRINAGAR, Oct 2: Tariq Hameed Karra, the chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), has opened the doors for collaboration with like-minded parties and individuals as part of the National Conference-Congress alliance. Karra made this statement following the conclusion of the three-phase Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, signaling a flexible approach to government formation should the need arise. He emphasized that the alliance is focused on ensuring that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is kept out of power, reflecting what he believes to be the will of the people. “The people have voted in favor of the alliance or to prevent the BJP from entering the power corridors, which is a positive outcome,” Karra told reporters.
He further clarified that if the situation demands, the alliance is open to dialogue and cooperation with other parties or individuals who share the same political vision, especially in opposition to the BJP’s policies. “Our doors are open for all like-minded people, forces, parties, and even individuals. We will discuss this with our alliance partner to explore any potential collaborations,” Karra added, signaling a strategic openness to future alliances. However, when asked specifically about considering the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as a potential partner, Karra refrained from making any direct statements, saying, “I have said like-minded, on the same page against BJP’s repressive, oppressive policies.” This careful wording underscores the Congress’ willingness to align only with parties that share a common stance against the BJP’s governance style.
Karra also expressed strong criticism of the BJP-led central government’s political maneuvers in Jammu and Kashmir. He referred to the recent nomination of five members to the J&K Assembly by the Lieutenant Governor, calling it a “nefarious design.” According to Karra, the move was part of a broader plan to manipulate the political landscape and weaken the democratic voice of the region. “This process of nominating MLAs is not just a formality; it is a deliberate attempt to control the Assembly in favor of their agenda,” he stated, reflecting the Congress’ concern over what it perceives as undemocratic tactics being employed by the BJP in the Union Territory.
Regarding the possibility of independent candidates playing a decisive role after the election results are announced on October 8, Karra dismissed them as potential kingmakers, instead labeling them as “spoilers” who were deliberately fielded to fragment the vote. “The Centre has resorted to this tactic after realizing that all their previous experiments and strategies failed. By fielding independents, they sought to create division among voters and undermine the democratic process,” Karra charged. He alleged that this was part of a larger effort to “disempower Kashmiris” by diluting the influence of mainstream political parties through such independent candidates.
In a broader critique of the national political climate, Karra touched on the detention of prominent figures like climate activist Sonam Wangchuck and other Ladakhis in Delhi. He used this example to highlight what he called an increasingly oppressive atmosphere under the BJP government. “The BJP and its subsidiaries have created an environment where no right-thinking voices are allowed to emerge. Any person who does not subscribe to the BJP-RSS ideology, regardless of their religion or region, is at risk of being silenced,” Karra stated. This comment reflects the Congress leader’s larger argument that the current political environment, under BJP rule, is one where dissent is met with repression, rather than being addressed through democratic debate.
Karra further expanded on the state of Jammu and Kashmir under BJP rule, disputing the party’s claims of having restored peace to the region. According to Karra, the peace the BJP boasts about is illusory. “There is no actual peace in J&K,” he asserted. “The calm they glorify as peace is not genuine. Peace lies in the hearts and minds of people, but here there is no peace in anyone’s heart or mind. There is only fear.” His argument is that the BJP’s policies in Jammu and Kashmir have created an atmosphere of fear and oppression, rather than one of true peace and reconciliation. Karra accused the government of running the region with a “jackboot policy,” wherein the heavy-handedness of the state has stifled the democratic spirit and undermined the rights of the people.
The Congress leader warned that if the electoral mandate, as reflected in the Assembly elections, is respected without manipulation, it would be a clear rejection of the BJP’s governance model. He argued that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had voted against the “oppression, jackboot policies, anti-people decisions, and interference in religious affairs” that have characterized the BJP’s approach to the region. Karra’s remarks suggest that any attempt to tamper with the election results would further alienate the people and exacerbate the already tense political situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
In his concluding remarks, Karra underscored the importance of a government that genuinely reflects the will of the people and stands in opposition to what he called the “repressive and oppressive” policies of the BJP. His message was clear: the National Conference-Congress alliance is committed to restoring democratic norms in Jammu and Kashmir, and is willing to work with any party or individual who shares this goal. However, his comments also served as a stark warning against any further central government interference in the democratic process of the Union Territory, suggesting that such moves would only deepen the existing sense of disempowerment among Kashmiris.
Through his pointed criticism and strategic openness to collaboration, Tariq Hameed Karra’s statements reflect the Congress party’s larger strategy to build a broad-based opposition against the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir. The emphasis on aligning with like-minded forces indicates a pragmatic approach to governance, one that prioritizes the removal of the BJP from power and the restoration of what Karra sees as true peace and democratic governance in the region. Whether this strategy will succeed depends on the post-election landscape, but Karra’s words have set the stage for potential political realignments in the months to come.
