B L Saraf
‘Son – Rise’ as an idiom, now, stands indelibly settled in our political lexicon. Rajiv Gandhi , Rahul Gandhi , Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Akhlesh Yadav, Badals of Punjab and now Tej Pratap and Tejesvi from Bihar have lent respectability to the word and made it fashionable to walk on the political ramp as an heir –apparent. Now, we are witnessing ‘ Baety – Rise’ phenomenon, though Indira Gandhi had shown the way long back. Mehbooa’s most likely rise to the highest seat of power, in the state, will put life in the word and remove gender anomaly ; besides connect the thread from where the demise of Indira Gandhi had left it and give fillip to the PM Narendra Modis’ much cherished “Bety Bachao- Bety Padao” campaign.
After the results of 2002 elections, people in the state had started to speculate that Mehbooba Mufti would assume charge as the Chief Minister. But, we were told, Mufti Sayeed, then, thought her time had not come. Reportedly, age related health issues are catching up with Mufti Sayeed.
In his own words “Mehbooba Mufti works in the field interacts with the workers and under stands their problems while he remains confined to the office and makes occasional speeches.” So, her time seems to have arrived . Other day, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said in a press conference , “Mehbooba Mufti deserves to become head of the state .” Well, one, as an independent observer, has to trust the political judgment of an old political war horse and vouch for Mehbooba’s credentials to assume reins of the state.
Much as local BJP would deny chances of change of the guard in the state, that the announcement comes close on the heels of PM Narendra Modi’s Public meeting in Srinagar, where Mehbooba Mufti occupied pride of place on the stage, says a lot. It signifies BJP’s nod to her ascendance to the throne. It is surely a long travel from 2003 when she was declined a seat on the stage. The point is made in the background of what had happened in the public meeting that took place in April 2003, at the same venue and on the same podium . Ex spy master A S Dulat informs us in his book Kashmir The Vajpayee Years that there were grave doubts about Mehbooba in Delhi, about her links with the Hizbul Mujahideen and the help it provided to her Party during the 2002 elections. He writes, “When Vajpayee went to Srinagar in April 2003 and famously extended his hand towards Pakistan, a stage was erected high up for the public meeting . Sitting up on the stage were Vajpayee and Mufti, the Chief Minister.
Mehbooba wanted to join them, but was politely told that there was no space for her on that stage .” p 250 . Since then much water has flown down the river Jehlem. Doubts, if ever there were any, appear to have been cleared.
To Mehbooba’s credit, it must be stated that being in a National Party she achieved , in a short time, what her father Mufti Sayeed couldn’t do in his four decades long career in the Congress party. Mehbooba entered the state Assembly for the first time on a Congress ticket from a Constituency in the Valley. Which her father was unable to do and had to enter the Assembly via R S Pura, Jammu. She build up PDP from nowhere and became instrumental in its rise to the present strength. On the other side, her activism, over ebullience and shrill demeanor, which have tendency to flare up things in our highly volatile state, may prove her short comings. Miss Mufti will have to dispel impression that she thinks and acts only in one way. Her healing touch policy must be multidimensional, taking care of all sections of the society, with a special focus on the internally displaced community.
Among many things that Mehbooba Mufti ought to do is to remove ‘Kashmir centric’ tag from the PDP and make it attractive for the people in Jammu, Ladakh and the minorities in the Valley .
Transition from father to the daughter is not going to be a smooth affair. The PDP stalwarts who have been sent to the Centre are in a sulking mode. The reasons Mufti Sayeed gave for her daughter’s impending rise to the CM post may be real but the manner they were prefaced made him sound a lobbyist. Mufti Sayeed said “ he is not going to anoint her. It will be a party collective decision.” Indeed, right words tempered with a note of apprehension.
When the possibility of change of guard at the top is in public domain it is better to settle the issue at the earliest, lest two power centers develop in the secretariat and uncertainty sets in. It will be detrimental to the state governance. Mufti Sayeed is in control . It is wise to act when one is in control of things, rather allow situation to pass on to wavering hands and the uncertain times.
Visualize a situation where a young CM faces a young leader of the opposition in the Assembly hall! Should the third Kashmiri young leader, presently in the separatists camp, get an occasion to give company to the two we will, indeed, be in interesting times. Jammu, then, will have to find one of the same age to keep company of his Kashmiri counterparts.
(The author is former Principal District & Sessions Judge)
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