I think of the days when Mufti Mohammad Sayed, with the support of Congress forged an alliance with it and formed a coalition government in the state in 2002. Mufti Mohammad Sayed, assumed the charge as sixth Chief Minister of the state.
His healing touch policy and self rule slogan were hot and blis-tering topics of discussions and debates. But this was confined to a particular section or class of society, the class of political pundits and analysts. Masses at general were unable and ineffectual to com-prehend politically moot, contextually vague, philosophically rich and diplomatic fruitful shibboleths. Thus people at general were upstaged from PDP- Congress coalition government. However, this aloofness and detachment was very short lived.
Mufti Sayed, started to ride the mind and psyche of masses with his diplomatic and tactful policies and programmes. Tightening the noose of Special Task Force (STF) and Ikhwan (pro- Indian gun men) and making them almost toothless tigers bestowed people a sigh of relief from long repression and suppression. The policy of fast track recruitment kept people especially educated lot busy in competition and rivalry. The programme of demolition and deconstruction or what officially was named as beautification drive occupied the head of people and kept them concerned of themselves. Mufti and Company practiced Macaulian and Kautalian politics in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and beautifully understood the context in which he was practicing it. People in the state were not threatened of any foreign attack or aggression to avoid any kind of revolt, revolution and resentment as pledged by Macaulay and Kautalya. But the mind and psyche of people were engaged and occupied with policies like, fast track recruitment, andhealing touch and programmes like deconstruction and reconstruction. This resulted in loosening of separatist grip over the masses. People were hardly giving any heed to separatist strike and boycott calls. Even there used to be lukewarm response to Geelanis, strike and boycott calls until Amarnath Land Sell-out ( Amarnath Land Row) was brought out and exposed.
Again Mufti Mohammad Sayed, has forged an alliance, an alliance with ideologically different political party, about which Mufti Sayed, himself said, it is a bond between North Pole and South Pole. With the support of BJP, Mufti Mohammad Sayed, formed a coali-tion government and took again the charge as Chief Ministers of the state. From the very first day (March,1),Mufti assumed charge of his office, he stoked a controversy by praising militants, separatists and Pakistan for allowing conducive atmosphere for polls in the state. This according to many was a deliberate and calculated move on the part of Mufti. He designed to win the favour and sentiments of people of valley, who are said to be angry with PDP over government formation with BJP.
The issue and controversy was yet to cool down that the political tsunami stormed in the state rather whole country with the release of Masrat Aalam, (a separatist leader), echoes of which were heard in both the houses of Indian Parliament. Opposition parties demanded suspension of Mufti government and pressed BJP for withdrawal of support to PDP. The main opposition party in the State NC calculated it wrong and reacted childishly. Following the legacy of his ancestors Omer Abdullah (Ex- Chief Minister and President of NC) could not hold his nerve and experienced verbal diarrhoea. Without wasting any second, twitterChief Minister (Name ascribed by Nietizens to Omer Abdullah) logged in to his twitter account and tweeted Yes, my Govt detained Masrat Alam & we kept him out of circulation. Omer did not face only wrath of netizens but masses at general condemned his verbal diarrhoea. It raised question marks on the role of law and judiciary in the state. This did not slip the tarnished image of Omer further but gave Mufti Sayed, an ample opportunity to score politically especially in the valley.
Despite the fact that Mufti had no direct role in the release of Alam, he exploited the political immaturity and pettiness of Omar and credited PDP for the release of Alam, by taking responsibility on his own shoulders. According to letter written on February 4, almost a month before Mufti Sayed was sworn as Chief Minister of the state, Jammu and Kashmir Home Department wrote to District Magistrate Jammu, that an order to detain Alam, under Public Safety Act had become void. In response to the letter District Magistrate Jammu wrote to the police that preventive detention of Alam, had not been approved by the government and he (Alam) should be released. So what is the role of Mufti Sayed in the release of Alam? One thing is certain and sure that Mufti Sayed succeeded once again to sit on heads of masses and ride on the direction he wishes them to hinge on. At bus stops, shops, markets, colleges, trains, hospitals, parks, or other public places people are engaged and occupied in new political discourse.
The things are being repeated and replayed what was performed and played seven years back when Mufti Sayed forged a coalition government with Congress. The formation of coalition government and occupation of public mind resulted in transfer of forest land (called sell out by many), God knows better what is being cooked and fudged behind the scene. Masrat Alams row just seems a drama scripted by some hidden and veiled writers with Modi, (Prime Minister of India) Rajnath, (Home Minister) and Mufti Sayed,(Chief Minister) as important characters. The drama has been played with Muftis role as survivor, Avatar, and Messiah for the people of Kashmir and sensationalised with PM Modis remarks I share the oppositions aakrosh (anger). While as Rajnath Singh, has at-tempted a new twist to the drama by asking a written report from the state government. The beginning of the drama is so sensational and twisting; God knows what would be the end.
Dr. Fayaz Ahmad Bhat a social activist, teaches Sociology at Degree College, Banihal.
His healing touch policy and self rule slogan were hot and blistering topics of discussions and debates. But this was confined to a particular section or class of society, the class of political pundits and analysts. Masses at general were unable and ineffectual to comprehend politically moot, contextually vague, philosophically rich and diplomatic fruitful shibboleths. Thus people at general were upstaged from PDP- Congress coalition government. However, this aloofness and detachment was very short lived.
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