It is unprecedented for leaders of the panchayat level — the lowest elected rung of Indian democracy — to travel to the nation’s capital to register grievances. But this is exactly what rural notables of Jammu and Kashmir did when they called on AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Thursday to make their protest heard on the issue of their physical security, but no less important, on the absence of funds and authority to them for carrying out development work. Usually the news out of Kashmir is about terrorism and secession politics.
J&K’s panchayati raj system has strong bridge value, being the only issue of substance that links the state’s three regions — Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh — otherwise divided by language, religion, topography, food, dress and politics. The emissaries to Mr Gandhi came to demand that provisions of the 73rd amendment to the Constitution empowering elected panchayats in the rest of India must apply to their state, too. He has backed their aspirations. Indeed, this is the first question on Mr Gandhi’s menu since his greater involvement in Congress affairs was announced recently.
The success of the panchayats in Kashmir has intrinsic merit and long-term ramifications for our unity, but MLAs of all parties are opposed to the demand, as chief minister Omar Abdullah has noted. In their shortsighted vision, empowering panchayats will shear their own public clout. Five panchayat members have been killed. It has to be ascertained whether it is the militants at work or political rivals.