It is heartening to see the Chairman of People's Conference, one of the seperatist outfits in Kashmir, deciding to contest Parliamentary elections. It is another matter that he has averred that this is a strategic change and not an ideological change. He has amplified further by stating that he will represent Kashmir in India and not India in Kashmir.
Now apart from the significance of an avowed seperatist joining the election fray, it will be interesting to see what sort of an oath he will take both as a contestent and, if successful, as a newly elected Parliament Member.
I know that Kashmir enjoys a special status with its own constitution. I dont know what sort of an oath Kashmiris were taking till now.
I wonder wether he will swear by the Indian constitution and solemnly promise to uphold it and the unity and the integrity of our country which he has distinguished from Kashmir. I also dont know if some special provision exists exempting Kashmiris from this.
Taking oath is not an easy business as some may think. It could be a tricky affair. For those who take a oath without meaning it as a routine necessity it is okay. See how our friends who claim to believe in Akhand Bharat swear to uphold the territorial integrity of our country as it stands today. But for a committed person it could be tricky on ideological or even on religious grounds.
But I have unshakeable faith in the wisdom and capabilites of our Legal Pundits and our Babus. They will find a way out. Remember how MGR took oath as CM in his last tenure. He was already unable to speak and almost in vegetable state. His oath taking was held 'in camera' and it was claimed that somebody read the oath and he nodded his head. If I am wrong my apologies and I stand corrected.
Let us see what happens now.
...ponder
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