B L Saraf
It is not an epitaph – only narration of facts. 2nd July 2016 having gone by and Idd is on the celebration mode: memories of same day of year 1984 come to our mind. People in Kashmir rose early in the morning to celebrate Idd when, amidst the celebrations, they saw a political drama of far reaching consequences unfolding in Raj Bhawan Srinagar. Farooq Abdullah was out of the CM’s office giving way to G M Shah, his estranged brother in law. Memories get refreshed as the date and the festival come close on the heels of 25th June, 2016 – the day the Anantnag by- election relegated the National Conference’s (NC) to the third position, well below Congress. Is the party on way to lose sway among the masses in the Valley? It is sad to witness the downslide of the political organization built by blood and sweat of so many in J& K State on the call of Sheikh Abdullah who, in total defiance of his die hard promoters, changed its sectarian creed to a secular one, and enlarged its fold to accommodate people of all faiths.
Much has been said and written, on both sides, about the events of 2.7.84, why and how did they happen. It is not our job here to dissect them. That will require a voluminous effort, as truth has many versions in J&K. But a cursory view the event becomes imperative, because what we propose to say here has roots in those events. We are told that MS Indira Gandhi suddenly lost love for Farooq Abdullah, after she had decisively intervened in his favor when successor to Sheikh Abdullah was chosen on latter’s death, in 1982. GM Shah, son in law of the family, was a serious contender. Shortly afterwards, Farooq Abdullah fell from the grace of Ms Gandhi. There are various theories’ to it. Farooq’s flamboyance, quite extraneous to his governance business, was touted as a reason to dethrone him. His love for good life is well known but that could hardly be a reason to meet out such harsh treatment to him. May be, Farooq Abdullah’s delusion of having, completely, stepped in the large shoes of the great Sheikh Abdullah and wearing a mantle of a sole opposition to Ms Gandhi – by hob nobbing with her opponents at the national level, cooked his goose.
In 1987 Farooq Abdullah made up with Rajiv Gandhi and both NC and INC fought state elections together in alliance. The election result, for some reasons, didn’t find favor with many in the Valley. To them, the result was outcome of a rigged process. There after what followed in the state is, as they say, now history. True, NC came back to the power, in 1996, but successive elections saw the party losing ground.
No doubt, the ‘unholy’ events of July, 84 triggered downfall of the N C. Nonetheless, the subsequent actions of its leaders, both in government and in opposition, acted as a catalyst to hasten the down slide. One must, though, give credit to Farooq Abdullah for having taken bull by the horns, in 1996, and jumped into the election fray to form a popular Government -when everyone dreaded the prospect, in view of the heightened militancy in the state. Young Omar Abdullah, looked up to by the people to redeem them from the morose, couldn’t do justice to his reputation and with the passage of his days in the government, he became an object of peoples wrath, for having failed to govern. In his regime the governance deficit was palpable. Though he did display some executive flourish when Valley was hit by the unprecedented floods, towards the end of his rule.
In opposition, Omar Abdullah’s role has not been one that could endear him to the people. In fact fillip flop and somersaults made from his known position when in the Government to echo the separatist voice do no good to his political credentials. As CM, Omar Abdullah batted for separate, but inclusive, colonies for the returning Pandits which he now, in opposition, describes as attempt to change the demography of the Valley. Same is true of his changing stance on having Sainik colonies in the Valley. It is gladdening for the state employees to know that Omar Abdullah is batting for them on implementation of 7th Pay Commission report. But when in power he and his Finance Minister dragged feet for years to implement 6th Pay commission report.
If 2nd July, 1984 was an ambush against the popular political force in the state, the showing of 27th June 2016 will be considered a democratic blow relegating that popular force to the foot notes of today’s political page.
National Conference was conceived as a movement – not just a political party – to change the fate of people in J&K. It prospered as an institution in the pre independence period when the sub- continent, more particularly our neighborhood, was engulfed in the sectarian flames. It gave quarter to all sections of the society irrespective of caste, colour and creed. Despite having suffered hiccups at times, the party held firmly to its core agenda of peaceful and harmonious co – existence. It would be travesty if N C has to fade away. With all its acquired failings, NC is truly a pan state political entity which can still attract people of all hues. It carries a legacy and has an integration quotient. More than for itself, it needs to survive in the larger interests of the state and the country. We hope the decline is reversible. To reverse it, father – son duo will have to introspect deep and work hard.
Some would say it is futile to be emotional on the decline of a political party. Be it so, it is quite natural to feel sentimental when it comes to the past. N C defines our past and is repository of so many memories – bitter and pleasant.
(The author is Former Principal District & Sessions Judge)
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