Pak View on Dying Abdullahs dynasty in Kashmir

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Dying Abdullahs dynasty in Kashmir

Ershad Mahmud

Updated on 2002-10-28 23:50:26

 

Doubtlessly, elections have critically changed the entire political

landscape in the Indian held Jammu & Kashmir. Significantly, in the

wake of the same elections, Abdullah dynasty has perished after

ruling the J&K state for over 27 years. One of the prominent

political casualties was the newly elected president of the National

Conference (NC) Omer Abdullah. Besides 10 other sitting ministers

failed to win their respective seats. Abdullah family had been the

champion of Kashmiri identity and anti-autocratic rule in Kashmir

since the early days of 1940s. This posture had provided the family

with an opportunity to enjoy immense love and respect from the common

people for over five decades. The ouster of the Abdullah dynasty from

the political scene qualifies an in-depth analysis as to what factor

led the party to such an unexpected humiliation. One also needs to

study as to how the party would chalk out its future strategy.

 

 

 

The National Conference and the Abdullahs have been a strong bridge

between India and the people of the J&K. Mostly analysts hold the NC

and the Abdullah family responsible for snatching the state from

Pakistan and handing it over to India. Initially, Sheikh Abdullah

managed to seek a semi-independent status for the state from New

Delhi. However, 5 years later, all dreams became nightmares for the

family when Jawaharlal Nehru jailed his friend Abdullah. The Indian

establishment dumped him in prison for 22 long years. After the hard

times behind bars, the elder Sheikh emerged as proponent of right of

self-determination. He even formed a political party, Plebiscite

Front, which led to a two-decade long struggle. Dismemberment of

Pakistan in 1971 brought the shrewd Kashmiri family back in the

Indian fold. The Abdullah family bargained his political views with

chief ministership of the state.

 

 

 

On the other hand, there is no denying of the fact that the Kashmiri

people are pro-freedom and against Indian rule. Having known this

hard reality the Abdullah family has successfully been exploiting

popular sentiments of the people through politics of deception and

duplicity. Interestedly, over the years the NC has been playing dual

role to satisfy the starkly two opposing constituencies. The former

state governor, Jagmohan, very aptly described this characteristic in

his book `My Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir'. He writes, "Different

postures could be adopted at different times and places by the same

leader. Of Sheikh Abdullah, for instance, it was said that he could

be a communalist in Kashmir, a communist in Jammu and a nationalist

in New Delhi."

 

 

 

These circumstances made NC the sole proprietor of Kashmiri

aspirations, thus ensuring a freehand to play the opposition and the

government both role at the same time.

 

 

 

The late 80s marked the beginning of armed struggle, which

successfully crippled Indian political and intelligence machinery in

the state. While the Kashmiri resistance effectively ousted New

Delhi, only NC had the recipe for the rescue. Moreover, the National

Conference largely reinstated the Indian setup in the state. Being

more loyal than the king himself, Farooq formed two brutal forces

i.e. J&K Special Task Forces and Special Operation Group. Both the

forces unleashed a new era of repression and swiftly became murderous

squad of Farooq Abdullah's NC regime.

 

 

 

Contrary to the past experience, the brutality and poor governance

badly exposed the NC and Abdullah family. He was being considered as

a purely Indian pet all along his 6 year long tenure in power. Having

made many political mistakes, Abdullahs had lost their Kashmiri

identity and became a mouthpiece of Delhi instead of the people.

Meanwhile, the NC joined the coalition government in Delhi with its

command lying in the hands of ultra-rightist BJP. Despite rejection

of the autonomy report and Gujrat carnage, Omer Abdullah did not part

ways with the BJP-led central government. Omer is still holding the

portfolio of deputy minister for external affairs in cabinet.

 

 

 

In this backdrop, Kashmiri people have two options, either to back

the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) or accept the dictates of

the Indian forces and poll votes. As Kashmiris are traditionally

known for their wisdom and flexibility, from Srinagar to far-flung

Doda district, they showed a mixed response in the recent polls.

Interestingly, the data shows that they completely boycotted the

election but voted against the National Conference in the

countryside. Removal of the NC from political scene was really an

uphill task, as the party has been a major foe of the Kashmiri

resistance since long. The Hurriyat could have never been able to

dislodge the NC from power, but the common people did it quite easily

and peacefully.

 

 

 

>From two-third majority of 57 seats house in 1996, the NC has settled

for just 28 seats this time. Not only Omer Abdullah is a loser but

also his uncle Mustaf Kamal from Gulmarg bagged a humiliating defeat

by a massive margin of 21,000 votes. The ouster of two stalwarts

marks the end of the Abdullah dynasty at a critical time in the

history of the state.

 

 

 

The Apple of orchard of Kashmir, Sopur, brought unexpected victory

for Congress' candidate. The factual position bring another

interesting facet of public opinion as analysts believe the people

voted for Congress to punish NC and it leadership for their anti-

representative polices. Omer Abdullah himself confessed that his

party's closeness to Delhi resulted in the unexpected defeat.

 

 

The state capital, Srinagar, was presenting yet another facet of

public sentiments. The beautiful Kashmiri town was wearing the look

of ghost city until the news of Omer Abdullah and his party's defeat

became the public knowledge. The city woke up as they heard the

turning of tides against the Abdullahs; the people of Srinagar

joyously celebrated the moments. The next morning, influential Indian

Express reported, "People hug each other with congratulatory words."

 

 

 

The National Conference is not a dead horse now. They have a bigger

role to play in the opposition than the one they played while being

in power. Slowly but surely it will try again to emerge as champion

of Kashmiri rights, their identity and even advocate of right of self-

determination. The dummy opposition of Abdullah may return to power

corridors, courtesy the Indian political system, which has the guts

to create the dummy leadership to isolate a genuine one. Now, the NC

may try to steal the slogans of APHC to lessen its strength. Analysts

observe that such a strategy can somehow restore the NC's lost

reputation and mass support.

 

 

 

It is evident from the situation on ground that India failed to get

the real message from the turmoil as well as the election results.

Across the Line of Control, the Pakistani policymakers and press, who

used to ignore the internal situation and political manipulations of

J&K state, would have to keenly monitor the fast changing scenario of

the disputed state.

 

 

 

(The writer is a specialist on dynamics of Kashmir conflict and India-

Pakistan relations. Working with Institute of Policy Studies).