There are moments in politics when the truth is revealed not merely by what political parties say, but by how power responds to what they say. Today was one such moment in Jammu and Kashmir. Two political parties took to the streets. The BJP chose to protest against the elected government and marched towards the Civil Secretariat, raising questions over unemployment, electricity tariffs, recruitment and governance. The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference chose to protest against the BJP and sought to march towards its office in Jawahar Nagar, primarily raising the unresolved question of restoration of statehood and the promises made by the Union government. 

But there was a fundamental difference in what happened next. The BJP was allowed to protest. The National Conference was stopped. That is not a distinction that can simply be erased by describing the day as two rival political protests. There were two political expressions, but they did not receive the same political space. 

The BJP has every democratic right to question the government of the day. It has every right to raise unemployment, electricity prices, recruitment or allegations of corruption. Opposition is not a favour extended by a government. It is an essential part of democracy. But the same principle must apply when the National Conference questions the BJP. The right to........

© Greater Kashmir