question_answer

Describe the external and internal disputes responsible for making the politics of Jammu and Kashmir continuously controversial.

Or

Describe any three major developments that left a long lasting impact on the politics of India after the death of Rajiv Gandhi.

Answer:

Soon after the independence, the issue of Jammu & Kashmir came up. It is not only a conflict between India and Pakistan, it was a question of political aspirations of people of Kashmir Valley.

Jammu and Kashmir comprises three social and political regions: Jammu, Kashmir Valley and Ladakh. The Kashmir Valley consists of mostly Muslims speaking Kashmir And very few Kashmir speaking Hindu minority. Jammu region is a mix of foothills and plains, with population of Hindu,

Muslims and Sikhs, speaking various languages. The Ladakh between Buddhist and Muslims. The Kashmir issue has external and internal dimensions. It involves the issue of Kashmir identity known as Kashmiryat and the aspirations of the people of J&K for political autonomy.

Since J&K was initially a princely state, its Hindu ruler die not want to merge with India or Pakistan and wanted independent status for his state. Pakistani leaders though that ?Kashmir region? belongs to Pakistan, as majority population is Muslims. The popular movement led by Sheikh Abdullah of ?National Conference?, wanted to get rid of Maharaja, but was against joining Pakistan.

In October 1947, Pakistan sent tribal infiltrators from its side to capture Kashmir. This forced Maharaja Hari Singh to ask for Indian Military help. India sent the Military supper and drove back the tribal infiltrator. Since then Kashmir became Indian state with a special provision under article 370.

Nowadays, Pakistan is directly involved in terrorist and secessionist violence in the Kashmir Valley.

Or

Since 1990-91, the political parties instead of ideology, the consensus on the following points have emerged.

(i) Agreement on new economic policies: While many groups are opposed to the new economic policies, most political parties are in support of the new economic policies - Most parties believe that these policies would lead the country to prosperity and a status of economic power in the world.

(ii) Political and social claims of the backward castes: Political parties have recognised that the social and political claims of the backward castes need to be accepted. As a result, all political parties now support reservation of seats for the ?backward classes? in education and employment. Political parties are also willing to ensure that the OBCs get adequate share of power.

(iii) Role of state level parties in governance: The distinction between State level and National level parties is fast becoming important. State level parties are sharing power at the national level and have played a central role in the country?s politics of last twenty years or so.

(iv) Emphasis on pragmatic considerations rather than ideological positions and political alliances without ideological agreement: Coalition politics has shifted the focus of political parties from ideological difference to power sharing arrangements. Thus, most parties of the NDA did not agree with the ?Hindutava? ideology of the BJP. Yet, they came together to form a government and remained in - power for 3 full term.