This is not about some recent cricket match that India won. This is about the recently concluded "bloody" elections in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Yes, I did say "bloody" not in any rhetorical context but literally because over 800 (source ) INDIAN lives were lost during the elections. Conducted in three phases, this is the "freest and fairest" election in the state since Pakistani sponsored and aided terrorism has virtually made living an impossibility in the state.
Despite the best efforts of the Pakistanis, Pakistan aided terrorists and the secessionists the elections recorded an average turnout of 44% in the three phases. Ok, so you are not impressed, the turnoout in the presedential election of 2000 in the US was around 48-50%. And those elections were conducted in the most peaceful conditions probably ever known to man ! As opposed to the election in J&K which was marred with terrorist attacks and violence. Furthermore the terrorist organizations called for a boycott of the elections and threatened to kill the people that voted. That did not deter 44% of the eligible electorate to turn up and vote !
Vote they sure did ! They voted the National Conference (NC) out of power. People were sick and tired of the mis-governance of the Abdullahs' and in true democratic (unlike the dictatorial menace next door who usurped power, citing mis-governance) style voted them out. Once again, if you think this is no big deal, try this on for size. If, the NC had won this time, it would have been Omar Abdullah, a member of the third generation from the Abdullah family who would have become the Chief Minister of the state. Ofcourse, there were no clear victors and the result is a hung assembly with a requirement for coalition government. This means that people from different political parties have to come together, bury their differences and pursue policies that aid and benefit the people of the state and not that of their bosses.
The Congress and the People's Democratic Front are most likely to form the government with the support of some independents. If Mufti Mohammed Sayeed is to become Chief Minister it would be ironical, since it was the kidnapping of his daughter and the subsequent release of terrorists that was one of the earliest victories for the terrorists ,that further emboldedened them to pursue terror as a means to an end. The question is will it now end in his regime ? That would be a truly sweet ending.
The Congress after all these years will now be a part of the government. Will they know provide the much needed governance that is required for the state or will they carry on the mis-governance of their predecessors and suffer the same fate as them five years from now.
The success of these elections is not due to any one individual, party or organization. Credit is due to the election commission headed by J.M.Lyngodh for keeping it free and fair (will all the nations that asked for international observers to be present please offer their services to the US for the free and fair conduct of the Nov senate polls or to our western neighbour for their Oct polls) , the state government headed by Farooq Abdullah for not indulging in any rigging (as accused by the Congress, the results are testimony enough)and ensuring the smooth running of the state machinery to enable conduct of elections, the central government headed by A.B.Vajpayee for having followed through on its promise of elections in the face of insurmountable odds, the army and the security personnel who inspite of losing several of their men provided enough security for democracy to flourish and finally the people of J&K who despite the threats to their lives showed up in huge numbers to show their support for democracy and India !
In parting, I have noticed that reports in the likes of CNN, NY Times, Wash. Post, BBC, and most of the western media have claimed that these elections are an attempt by the Indian government to legitimize their rule over J&K. Hogwash, thats what it is. Forget the fact that our neighbouring country is ruled by a dictator. How many of these newspapers have questioned the military rule in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) or Azad Kashmir as it is called? It is everything but "Azad". How about demanding elections there. Is this bias or ignorance ?
Either way it does not matter, because in true democratic style the people have spoken and India has won and victory is sweet !