Have Abdullahs come under the pressures of Mufties in Kashmir valley ?

A Look through the mist
Dr Farooq Abdullah had quoted ( 11-06-1999 the day Farooq inaugurated Bahu Plaza at Jammu ) an old elderly person having told him while in Kargil on 10.06.1999 , “Udar jana hai aur apni territory baapsi laana hai". As regards problem with Pakistan he said,” "We do not want war but in case Pakistan is bent upon not mending her malafide war will be there" and "Iss Baar Koi Haji Peer bapis nahin denge, LoC-LoC-Kush Nahin rahnewali, ab ki baar jang hogi toe kush bapis nahin denghe". And the same Dr. Farooq Abdullah on 12th April 2009 was quoted as having told the media persons at his party headquarters :: “It is important (for India) to resume talks with Pakistan. India has no other option but to resume the process for settlement of Kashmir and other issues without any pre-condition,” Dr Abdullah saying that India has no other option but to resume the process for settlement of Kashmir and other issues without any pre-condition surely points towards compulsions before Farooq Abdullah in view of the social and political environment that has emerged in Kashmir valley in 2009.
Addressing his workers at Srinagar Mufti Mohd Sayeed was quoted as having said on April 6 said “We all know what happened in 1987 when Syed Muhammad Yousf Shah, who had contested the elections, became Syeed Salah-ud-din (the supreme commander of prominent indigenous militant outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen, and chairman of the United Jihad Council, a conglomerate of more than 20 militant groups. I fear return of 1987 and 89. Almighty Allah should save us from such a situation . I ask them ( GOI) not to sacrifice long term goals for short term gains. When the situation becomes volatile in Kashmir, the government insists that Kashmir issue needs to be solved. But when peace returns, the issue is shelved,” No doubt some experts may like to dispose the uttering of Mufti Mohd Sayeed as simple Lok Sabha and Assembly by-election campaign compulsions. National Conference candidate for Hazratbal assembly constituency, Dr Mustafa Kamal nomination paper episode did provide some working tools to Mufties on 22nd April against the trueness of election process. An unhealthy environment/ ground for debate has been created after Election commission said on 23 April that a fresh notification for election would be issued later.
But keeping in view that Mufti Mohd Sayeed has remained a senior Congress leaders, a Union Home Minister in VP Singh Government and Chief Minister of Congress PDP coalition government in J&K his words can not be taken so casually particularly when he has talked of “Solving Kashmir Issue” because the common people of Kashmir Valley takes all these opinions very very seriously. More particularly the impact that the on going militancy has left on the common minds in an environment where all pro 1947 Accession of J&K with India and anti Pakistan elements have been playing a second fiddle role in the local lanes of Kashmir valley for last nearly 20 years has to be noted with serious concern.
The Kashmiri Hindu migrants have not gone back to their lands even after 20 years. Rather none of the Migrant organization has put any meaningful pressure on the government for engineering their return. Instead long term projects are being taken up by the Government for construction of permanent multistory buildings for allotment to Kashmir migrant . Extra ordinary concessions in taxes, fees, education, postings, employment, leave salary, relief etc that are being extended to Kashmiri Migrants ( to be specific Kashmiri Pundits ) have rather strengthened the belief of the new generation Kashmir Youth of after 1989 days that surely there is some dispute over accession of J&K with India that requires consideration.
It has been learnt that in nineties the registration ( with Relief Commissioner Migrants Jammu ) of Kashmir valley Migrant families had crossed 50000 number and the same was cut down to near 32000 units through audit and cancellation. It has been reported that a good number of new migrant cards / registrations have been made during last ten years. If it is true , it means that migration has taken place even after early 1990s . Or false migrant cards have been made by those who have not migrated in 1989/90 simply for the sake or relief and other benefits on compassionate grounds. On the other hand neglect of those who have been crying for assistance and relief for having migrated from the remote militancy affected areas of Udhampur / Doda/ Rajouri in Jammu region too raises doubts about the claims of GOI over Kashmir valley when the migrants from DODA / Rajouri / Udhampur ( what ever small may be number ) and Kashmir Valley are not treated on equal grounds. In a way it also unduly lowers the goodwill of Kashmir Muslims since the Hindu in India may get an impression that it is only the Kashmiri Muslim who do not treat the Hindu worth having right over the lands of Kashmir valley. Such like impressions if allowed to carry on would surely be an injustice to the truthfulness of Kashmiri muslim. All well meaning people of J&K do object to such approach. It only reduces the goodwill of India before the innocent Kashmiri locals.
Persons like Syeed Ali Shah Geelani have been left unchecked to name the Security Forces as “Killer Troops”. So the Kashmiri youth in thirties is sure to misunderstand the intentions of India.There is utmost need to be frank and seriously acknowledge the ground realities as on date since enough damage has been caused due to non serious handling of so serious a turmoil that erupted in Kashmir Valley in 1989.
The other important turnaround in J&K politics has been the compulsions and weaknesses that are reflecting from the actions / steps Dr. Farooq Abdullah has taken particularly since December 2008. Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah has always enjoyed a choice status in 1947 and even there after before New Delhi. Even Dr. Farooq Abdullah has in the past lived to his status and never appeared under breaking stresses. He has touched the heart of people from all religion & regions and has been an acknowledged tallest leader of not only Kashmir Valley but of whole of J&K. But since December 2008 he is appearing to be under heavy pressures. Even his party appears to be under pressure. National Conference contested the 2008 Assembly Elections projecting Dr. Farooq Abdullah as the next Chief Minister J&K. It is a common whisper in the streets that National Conference has betrayed the people under pressures from Congress inspite of having won over 10 seats more than Congress in assembly Elections. It has also been inferred that National conference feared a possible PDP lead Government in case NC did not play inferior to Congress and NC was desperate for returning to power. Dr. Farooq Abdullah had so far held very very firmly to totalness of the 1947 Accession of J&K with India . Where as Mufti Mohd Sayeed has openly pleaded for resolving Kashmir issue ( since he says Kashmir issue has to be resolved and the issue as per him is not regarding center state relations or for sharing of the tax revenue) and has in a way disowned the totalness of 1947 Accession when he suggests dual control of India and Pakistan on some affairs pertaining to Kashmir and the use of both Indian and Pakistani currencies in J&K ( not all parts of India and Pakistan ) . Mufti has given impressions to a common Kashmiri that he sees Kashmir turmoil having its core in Kashmir affairs of international significance. So under the circumstances prevailing in Kashmir Valley Mufti Mohd Sayeed and his PDP appear to have put National Conference and Farooq Abdullah under stress.
The worries of National Conference reflect from (i) Dr. farooq Abdullah contesting assembly elections from two places ( Hazratbal and Sonwar) (ii) Dr. Farooq resigning as MLA from both seats and contesting for Rajay Sabha Seat. People were hoping that he would work for solving their problems and instead, Abdullah entered the Rajya Sabha. (iii) Congress candidates Azad and Soz winning Rajay Sabha seats uncontested where as “TALL” Farooq Abdullah had to contest (iv) National Conference has been “labeled” as a regional party representing only Kashmir valley since it is contesting 3 seats of Lok Sabha only from Kashmir Valley and Congress has secured broader image by contesting all the 3 Lok Sabha seats from Jammu and Ladakh regions. Rather NC has been pushed in the corner as a sure Kashmir centric party (v) and above all NC was forced to field Dr. Farooq Abdullah ( member Rajay Sabha ) as a candidate for Lok Sabha 2009 from Srinagar seat. It reflects weak National conference with no other leader to contest PDP.
Mufti’s PDP appears taking lead over National Conference in Kashmir valley . Signs of internal rivalries within NC too are emerging. .There appears no concrete political and economic agenda for governance. Public cynicism appears to be growing. Those who voted in 2008 are disappointed and illusion is brewing. Farooq Abdullah will have to hold the reins.
*( Daya Sagar is a Sr Coloumnist on Kashmir affairs and a social activist dayasagr@yahoo.co.uk www.alookthroughthemist.blogspot.com)