Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 22: Political rivals in Kashmir seem to have buried the hatchet and are trying to put up a collective front to challenge Centre’s last year’s decision to abrogate J&K’s special status.
National Conference president and former J&K chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah has become active and is trying to bring everyone together. “It seems Dr Farooq has decided to spearhead the campaign to revive the political activities in Kashmir,” a politician said.
PDP president and former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, who is serving detention under Public Safety Act (PSA) at her Gupkar residence here, took to the twitter to appreciate the NC president. “Appreciate the statesmanship shown by Dr Farooq sahib in forging a collective response to Delhi’s onslaught on J&K’s special status. It’s time we forgo political differences and stand together,” Mehbooba wrote on twitter.
Chairman of the Peoples Conference and former minister in PDP-BJP regime Sajad Gani Lone also took to the twitter and wrote: “A very satisfying day. We firmly believe that a collective mechanism is the only way out. It’s no longer about power. It’s about a struggle to get back what rightfully belongs to us. Thanks Dr Farooq sahib, Mehbooba ji and Tarigami sahib.”
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “Kashmir based politicians have realized that they will have to bury the hatchet and move forward as they can no longer tread on different paths. Putting up a collective front is a compulsion for them.”
He said, “Once the delimitation process is completed Jammu and Kashmir will have equal number of assembly seats and it won’t be a cakewalk for the regional parties to stake the claim to form the government on their own. They need each other’s support to remain relevant.”
The analyst said, “It’s clear that the Kashmir based parties have made demand to get J&K’s special status back as their slogan. They are sending a message that they are fighting for a common cause. The most experienced and the veteran leader of J&K Dr Farooq Abdullah is acting as a patriarch and in coming days we may see many more developments taking place.”
He said, “Whether J&K will get back its special status or not remains to be seen but one thing looks inevitable that Kashmir based politicians will take collective decisions in days to come. What would be more interesting is will these parties contest the assembly elections under one banner or will these formations boycott the polls? In coming days many things will unfurl. For time being it’s clear that the political parties in Kashmir have decided to share a common platform to make their presence felt on the ground.”
