Soon after being sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed courted a controversy by thanking the separatists, militants and even Pakistan for the support that the state received during the assembly elections.
The controversy drowned the fact that after many years the state has a truly representative government, with Jammu region having a real say in the affairs of the state.
The statements of Mufti provoked hostile reaction as the country is aware that the Election Commission of India had deployed the army, the paramilitary forces and the Jammu and Kashmir Police to ensure free and fair elections.
What Mufti Mohammad Sayeed wanted to convey, but could not be outspoken about it was the fact that the militants and separatists had changed their stance from asking the people to boycott the elections to exercise their judgement on whether to participate or not. They had done so as they feared that if the voters in the Kashmir Valley had responded to the call for boycott of the election, the chances would be brighter for the Kashmiri Pandit representatives to emerge successful.
The voters in the Kashmir Valley chose to elect the People’s Democratic Party candidates as against the National Conference or the BJP candidates. The anger against the National Conference in the aftermath of the massive floods in the Valley had not vanished. Mufti is grateful to the separatists for having softened their stand. Former chief minister Omar Abdullah chose to boycott the swearing-in ceremony.
The Bharatiya Janata Party had hoped that it would win 44 seats in the assembly and tried its best to emerge as the largest single party. But it did not succeed. While it performed well in the Jammu region, the voters in Poonch and parts of the Valley chose to elect some National Conference candidates, and the BJP could secure only 24 seats as against the PDP, which secured 28 and became the largest group in the assembly.
Historically, the Jammu region was the dominant power till independence. The Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir, who was a Dogra, exercised power and the people of the Kashmiri Valley had to fight for their rights. Sheikh Abdullah spearheaded the struggle against the Maharaja and India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was sympathetic to his cause.
In 1947, when the Maharaja decided to accede to India, Nehru had exercised his influence to get him agree to appoint Sheikh Abdullah as the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Since then, the power had remained in the hands of the Chief Minister, who hailed from the Valley. For the first time this year, the Jammu region voted in favour of the BJP to ensure that it emerged as the second largest party.
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had the option of getting the support of the National Conference and forming a government in the state. But that would have had no representative from the Jammu region or Ladakh.
For the first time since 1947, Jammu region has a significant role in the state government. Mufti knows that he has a better chance to succeed as the Chief Minister if he has the support of the BJP, which is in power at the Centre. Mufti has agreed to the induction of Nirmal Singh as the Deputy Chief Minister. He has also agreed to induct Sajjad Lone, the son of Abdul Gani Lone, who was assassinated by the militants in 2002.
The PDP and BJP have agreed on a common minimum programme, called the Agenda for Alliance. The BJP has agreed not to rake up the issue of repealing of Article 370 of the Constitution of India which gives a special status to the state. The PDP on its part has agreed to soften its stand on the lifting of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. If the security situation improves, it could be lifted from areas of the state where the army is not deployed. But much would depend on the attitude of the militants and of Pakistan, which still is nourishing 40 terrorist training camps across the Line of Control.
Mufti tried to soften Pakistan by stating that it had a role in ensuring peaceful elections in the state. His statement on Pakistan had little credibility as the people are aware of Pakistan’s effort to induct militants, which was foiled by the security forces and the Kashmir Police.
Mufti knows that Pakistan still has the capability of sending infiltrators into Jammu and Kashmir. He also feels that it would be in the interest of the state to have a dialogue with Pakistan. He was the Home Minister of India when militancy erupted in the state in the late eighties and among the first victim was his daughter Rubiya Sayeed, who was kidnapped by the militants.
The release of four militants, in exchange for his daughter, had added fuel to the militancy.
Mufti Sayeed was the Chief Minister in 2002 for a period of three years when the Centre had a BJP Government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In Jammu and Kashmir, the period is known for the efforts made by the Centre to open a process of dialogue with the separatists. The ‘Round Table conference’ initiated during the period did not produce concrete results, but it helped in containing militancy.
It was also during the period of Chief Ministership of Mufti Sayeed that efforts were made to open the Line of Control between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Trade between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has been continuing, though sporadically.
Mufti knows that it would be in the interest of the state if the relations between India and Pakistan are more cordial. His statement welcoming the decision of sending the Indian Foreign Secretary to Pakistan should be read in that context.
Mufti also knows that if the situation along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir is peaceful, it would be easier for him to govern the state. His statement complimenting Pakistan on the very first day of assuming office in the state should be read in that light.
The atmosphere at the swearing-in ceremony of the new government in Jammu and Kashmir, which was attended by the Prime Minister and senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party including party president Amit Shah, Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi was marked by warm hugs giving an impression that would smoothen the working of the government.
Over three and half decades ago, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was looking forward to be sworn-in as the youngest chief minister, but he was denied that privilege when Indira Gandhi entered into agreement with Sheikh Abdullah, who was sworn-in as the Chief Minister and Mufti had to move to the Centre as a minister in her government.
One hopes that today Mufti displays the virtues of an elder statesman and gives Jammu and Kashmir the mature leadership that it needs.
(The views expressed in the above article are of Ghazunfur Butt. (ANI)