Isolation, or rather self-isolation, has become the key to the survival of humankind with the coming of the novel coronavirus. Conversely, some politicians in Kashmir are using it for the longevity of their careers.
Two former chief ministers used the pandemic conveniently to maintain silence on the revival of J&K’s special status even as one of them, Omar Abdullah, once called for elections and the restoration of statehood. As his silence on Article 370 fuelled speculation of having made a sell out to New Delhi, he claimed to have committed a mistake by “being sucked into this debate at the wrong time.”
Curiously though, other chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, who was instrumental along with her father, late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, in cobbling coalition with the BJP, is still under detention in terms of Public Safety Act.
Earlier this month, she was shifted from a guesthouse-turned-jail to her official residence that has been designated as a subsidiary jail. Her daughter Iltija, who has for long using mother’s tweeter handle, claimed Mehbooba will not “shy away from taking on centre over August 5 decision when she was freed.”
It appears Mehbooba is trying to redeem the “detention” to be relevant given the fact that rationale of silence by her predecessors has increasingly lost its resonance in J&K, particularly Kashmir.
Long time before Article 370 was revoked by the centre; Mehbooba had become arguably the most hated politician in Kashmir for varied reasons—from her “toffee remarks” to defending killings and blinding of thousands of people in 2016 unrest.
She remained committed to PDP’s alliance with BJP despite few months of hiatus soon after the demise of her father, the man who became Chief Minister twice and remained the only Muslim Home Minster of India till date.
The PDP choose silence when Prime Minister Narendra Modi in full public glare asked her father that he will not accept anyone’s suggestions when it comes to running the affairs in J&K, notwithstanding the fact that late Mufti Sayeed was head of the coalition government described as combination of North and South Pole. The BJP’s view on Kashmir is as old the party itself. Mehbooba and her aides would defend coalition despite the fact that the PDP was voted to majority in Valley on the poll plank of “being only force to prevent entry of the BJP.”
Mehbooba’s continuing incarceration even after two other former CMs have been freed is inexplicable on certain grounds, mainly for reasons what makes her exceptional suspect under the PSA or is it a favour to her by the erstwhile alliance partner to redeem some ground on differently looking political turf in J&K.
