The Assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir held in October 2002 are important in two respects. On the one hand, it was a blow to the separatist movement as a good number of people participated in the elections despite a boycott call given by separatist groups and on the other hand the strongest regional political party of the state, National Conference, was voted out of power by the people. A new coalition government of Peoples Democratic Party and the National Congress under the leadership of Mufti Mohammed Syed came into power. After taking over as Chief Minister, he reiterated his commitment to good governance, end of corruption and nepotism, employment to unemployed youth, end of human rights violation, release of detenues, relief to violence hit victims, return of Kashmiri migrants to their homes, rehabilitation of surrendered militants, repeal of those laws which gives unlimited powers to the security forces, honourable solution for the vexed Kashmir problem and other measures for the welfare of the people. All these measures were given the name of “Healing touch philosophy”. Since the unending violence of the past 14 years had brought large scale trouble and trauma to the people of the State, therefore, healing touch philosophy has been described as a process to heal their wounds.

Although, the new government has completed fifteen months in office, the situation at the grass root level continues to be grim as the promises made to the people are proving Machiavellian in nature. Corruption and misuse of official positions by some bureaucrats and politicians continues unabatedly. In fact, this phenomenon has assumed the most alarming dimensions in recent times but hardly anything is done to check the menace.

The demolition drive launched in the beginning received appreciation. Later on it became quite clear that the drive was against poor and hapless people and the same proved ineffective when it reached near the illegal erected structures of the rich drones. Similarly the campaign against the chemists and drug sellers on the plea of checking adulteration later on turned to be a big business for drug controllers and other concerned officials particularly at the time of issuing licences.

The unemployed youth in the State has crossed the 2 hundred thousand mark and the Government is not showing any serious concern in this regard. It is worthwhile to mention here that the problem of unemployment is described as one of the causative factors of militancy in Kashmir as unemployed youth can very easily fall into the hands of militants and separatists. The record of human rights violations has reached an all time high. Killings from both sides are continuing without showing any let up. Custodial deaths have increased by three times as compared to the era of Farooq government. The prisoners are languishing in Jails without serious charges against them. The plight of the Kashmiri migrants has not changed as new government is not paying any heed towards their grievances. They are not ready to return to their homes because of ongoing violations despite the claims of the government that the situation in Kashmir has improved. Though some developmental works are in progress, yet these programmes have not made any change in the fate of the people.

As a result of ineffective governance, people are annoyed with the government. In view of the growing dissatisfaction among the people it seems quite clear that in the forthcoming parliamentary elections, the voting turn out will be very low as compared to the 2002 assembly elections, because people are getting convinced that even change of government through democracy is not changing the miserable plight of the Kashmiri people. Those who will participate in the elections majority among them would vote against the PDP and Congress alliance. The recent expansion of the council of ministers, which is now about 45 per cent of the total strength of the state assembly, strengthens the doubts of the people that the new government is concerned about its own interests rather than the welfare of the people.

Thus, in view of this scenario, it is clear that Mufti government has not met the expectations of the people. Despite many odds, the people of J&K participated in the 2002 assembly elections. But, what it has yielded out of it is there for everybody to see. The government should try its utmost to give a neat and clean administration. It should work honestly and sincerely for the revival of the ailing economy of the State. It should also create more employment opportunity for unemployed youth. It should also take people oriented measures for the welfare of the State. These are some of the measures which can restore the faith of the people on the democratic institutions in the State, which otherwise has been shattered.