Observe Coalition Dharma in Kashmir Please

Kashmir experts of the stature of Professor Sumantra Bose have called the alliance between the BJP and the PDP— two unlikely coalition partners—to govern the state of Jammu & Kashmir a historic occasion. The coalition came into force after lengthy parleys that included ironing out differences to focus on the development of the region. The state, especially the Kashmir Valley, remains fragile and is plagued by deep unrest even though the anti-India insurgency that began in the 80s has softened over the years. And now, the coalition in power has a real mandate to set things right and end the distrust between the Muslim- majority Valley and the Hindu- dominated Jammu region.

Coalition dharma demands that cracks over long-held differences must not worsen. After all, a formula of understanding was arrived at after two months of hard negotiations. A veteran, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed knows only too well that an opportunity to bring peace to the Valley comes but rarely.

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