NEYAZ ELAHI
Resentment is brewing among people in Muslim majority areas of Chenab Valley and all across Kashmir against People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for giving free hand to communal forces patronized by Sangh Parivar. PDP that sought votes from people especially from Muslims to keep BJP at bay during election campaign shared the chair with the same party though secular parties like National Confer- ence, Congress plus the couple of in- dependent legislators with secular mindset had offered the support to it for government formation. Declining all such offers, Mufti chose to hug Sangh Parivar operated party that it abhorred the most pre election time, probably with a hope to secure mas- sive flood relief from New Delhi run by Modi led BJP Government.
A hope that turned into despair sooner. Within days after deciding to celebrate honeymoon with BJP, it became clear, that it was a different Mufti this time. Not the one who suc- cessfully managed to keep Congress under control during his tenure as Chief Minister from 2002 to 2005. Today’s Mufti seems to be devoid of charisma, lacking leadership quality, succumbing to the pressure of his ally and even failing to convince its grass root supporters about the ‘benefits’ of the coalition with Sangh Parivar. People in the state particularly in Kashmir had great expectations from erstwhile charismatic politician Mufti Muhammad Sayeed but alas, he disappointed everyone. Mufti who talked about battle of ideas and who had released political prisoners at random during his previous stint as CM and had even given a free hand to pro-freedom leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, buckled under pressure from its ally and slapped Masrat Alam for merely waving a Pakistani flag, the phenomenon that is common in Kashmir.
He like Omar Abdullah muzzled the voice of separatist lead- ers and frequently placed them under house arrest. Mufti who talked about the battle of ideas left no stone- unturned in muzzling the voice of common people and even gave a free hand t o government forces to ap- pease his Nagpur bosses. At the moment it is a common perception in Kashmir that Mufti is responsible for bringing RSS into Jammu and Kashmir. RSS was pres- ent in Jammu since its formation but not so active as it is at present. Even his senior colleague and Member Parliament Tariq Hameed Karra admit- ted that it is Mufti that paved the way for RSS entry into the state. Karra went on record saying that what RSS failed to achieve from last 70 years, achieved with in last 7 months under Mufti’s rule. History will always remember Mufti for encouraging Sangh Parivar and giving it a free hand in Jammu and Kashmir. It is the people from the Sangh Parivar that sometimes chal- lenge the cow slaughtering and some- times move to Apex Court against the incorporation of Article 35A. Mufti will also be remembered for provid- ing an opportunity to BJP to rule the state.
The political analysts believe that PDP ditched the voters by shaking the hands with a party which it called communal during election time. PDP spokesperson Dr Mehboob Beigh had boasted that only Mufti has the guts to fight and challenge the Modi wave while party president Mehbooba Mufti during one of its elec- tion campaigns in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district had said that the only aim of her party is to keep Modi led BJP at bay. What happened after the elections is the history but one thing is clear that PDP is losing sheen and people who voted for this party are repenting. In fact Mufti government in Kashmir and Chenab Valley has lost its face big time. There was beef row, Udhampur attack on Kashmiri trukers, issuance of Permanent Resident Certificates at school level, eviction of Muslims from forest land in Jammu; Mufti maintained a steadfast silence with no reference to any of these developments. He has been acting as nothing has been happening on the ground. It is high time for Mufti to take the charge and stop brining disrepute to the Chief Ministers chair. If he con- tinues to succumb before its ally then only God can save the institution of Chief Ministership. Mufti is well aware of the fact that Sangh Parivar is hell-bent to communalize the situation in Jammu and Kashmir but it is he who has to curb them and move ahead without any pressure as unlike BJP he has options to rule the state till 2020.
(The author is working with Current News Service and can be mailed at [email protected])
