Early Times Report
JAMMU, June 30: PDP ideologue and member of Lok Sabha Muzaffar Hussain Baig is not known for loose talks; he is considered a serious politician who speaks occasionally to make his point(s). He, unlike other Kashmiri leaders from the non-PDP parties, was the one who all through advocated an alliance between the PDP and the BJP, saying that an alliance between these two parties would be in the best interest of the state. He expressed his happiness when the PDP and the BJP forged an alliance after detailed discussions and formed government in the state on March 1. Actually, he was present when the new government assumed power in Jammu.
Very significantly, all the political parties, political groups, and even separatists didn't really appreciate these developments. They described the alliance between the PDP and the BJP opportunistic and accused both the parties of subverting the mandate. Interestingly, many in the BJP, including a majority of its MLAs, were also not happy with these developments. Their argument was that there was nothing whatsoever that was common between the two parties and that the alliance with the PDP would hurt the BJP both in the state and rest of the country. They were also unhappy for another reason: The Agenda of Alliance was not consistent with the ideology of the Sangh Parivar, including the BJP, and the alliance rendered people of Jammu region unreal and ineffective for all practical purposes. "The BJP+ had, like the PDP, 28 MLAs, but Jammu region got only crumbs" was their argument given in meetings held in a camera. The truth is that all, barring a handful of BJP leaders in the centre, were not in favour of any tie-up with the PDP. The story of most of the PDP leaders was no different. They too were against the idea of their party stitching an alliance with what they termed as a "communal party committed to diluting the state's special status".
During the past more than 100 days, many developments unfolded, which proved the critics right, notwithstanding the fact that the BJP did all that it could do to ensure the stability of the coalition government. There were occasions when it appeared that the coalition government would collapse, but nothing of the sort happened as the top leadership of the parties didn't allow things to reach a point of no return. However, it now appears that things are going out of hand and there is the possibility of the PDP and the BJP parting ways - something the BJP high command and BJP ministers in the coalition government would not like. They want the coalition to complete full term in office for reasons not really difficult to fathom.
It was none other than Baig who expressed his disgust openly and in an unambiguous manner and candidly admitted that the coalition government may not complete full term in office. "I don't think it will. But it can complete six years if it adopts some corrective measures. After all, a man is not dead till he is dead. If God forbid, this experiment fails, it will be a cruel joke on the people of Jammu & Kashmir," Baig told a leading national daily. On CM Mufti Sayeed, Baig said that "he should have directly sat with PM Modi to carve out a better agenda of alliance between the two coalition partners".
He virtually spoke for Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed and gave the people to understand that the Mufti was unhappy as he was not really in a position to deliver what he promised. His comment that the Mufti was feeling "betrayed" should explain everything. His refrain was that the Mufti should have a direct link with PM Modi further suggested that all was not well with the coalition at the local level and that the Mufti didn't get a freehand.
Baig was highly critical of Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu. In fact, he accused him of "giving false dreams to people of Jammu & Kashmir". It is important to note that it was BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav and Haseeb Drabu who drafted the Agenda of Alliance, which, according to Baig, was ill-drafted. At the same time, he disclosed that he had given certain suggestions to the Mufti, which for one reason or the other were not considered. "Mufti sahib asked me for some suggestions on certain issues. I suggested a few things but probably he forgot. Maybe he is too worried or feels let down. Maybe he feels betrayed or even caged (by people around him)," Baig said.
As said, Baig is not a loose talker. He is a serious politician and, hence, what he said could not be ignored. And what he said must have rattled the power-hungry and small time politicians in the BJP. As for the people of Jammu region and Ladakh, they, everyone knows, are feeling betrayed. They have been saying that the Agenda of Alliance has reduced them to a nullity. They are right. |
