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| Governor's Rule: Kashmir's Ubiquitous Political Reality | | | Bhushan Parimoo | 8/4/2018 11:05:07 PM |
| | With the resignation by Mtr Mehaboba Mufti, the Rule of Governor has been imposed once again in the State. It is neither surprising nor unexpected. The State is accustomed to this regular rain called the Governor's Rule. Unlike the monsoon which doesn't cross the Pir Panchal mountain barrier, the Governor's Rule is an intermittent visitor under the political climate created by the Government of India for the state. It never comes from out of blue moon but has followed a set pattern of events; first lightening that unity of the Nation is in danger, needs immediate attention follows thunder of withdrawal of support followed by the dismissal of government. Such unique climate has been allowed to develop over the years by the Centre; worsening day by day not in tune in democracy. Nothing unusual is witnessed thereafter and life goes on as usual. Only the rulers change. The Governor's rule was imposed for the first time during the tenure of Governor L K Jha in March 1977 when Congress withdrew support to the then government headed by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. He was installed as the Chief Minister following the Indira-Sheikh Delhi Accord in 1975.Although dismissing of the governments in state has been subject to the whims and fancies of the Central Government without any exception which started with the dismissal of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah the second Prime Minster of the state after Accession in 1953. Since then, history is repeated at frequent intervals when it felt necessity to safe guard interest not of country but of the ruling party at the centre. This writer was a primary class student when Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was brought to be lodged at Tara Niwas Udhampur in the dead of a night. Thereafter has been witness to the entire eight Governors Rule imposed upon the state till date here. The first imposition of Governor's rule is still fresh as others. It was on the morning of 26th March 1977 Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah returned from Delhi where he was summoned by Smt Indra Ghandi, to iron out the differences between him and Sanjay Gandhi? Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah did not allow him to interfere in the matters of the state to which Sanjay Gandhi was not accustomed. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah had annoyed him not allowing expanding of the Emergency Rule in the State under Art 370, thought unofficially it was practised here too. It needs mention that during the period Late Rishi Kumar Koushal organised a two day All India BJP Convention at Reasi. Strangely, Late Rishi Kumar Kumar Koushal and other others from BJP used it ruthlessly to silence those differed with its ideology and this writer too has been one of the victims. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was received by his workers at the airport when he was wearing light yellowish colour double- breast Suit . Press Reporters asked what transpired at Delhi? when by then it was public that Congress has withdrawn its support to him. He said Mai Bee Gayee Thaa Taamaashaa Deekhneey Paar Taamash Hee Nahee Huwa. He referred to the crushing defeat of the Congress party in the General election of 1977 apprised his party colleagues in detail with his side of the story at his official residence, Residency Road Jammu. The Congress Party approached the Governor Sh. L.K.Jha to invite for forming of the government. Late Abdul Gani Lone was lone Congress person who opposed it for the reason, first inviting Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah to run the government and now withdrawing it without any reason may become counterproductive. Late Devi Dass Thakur a member of the Cabinet did hectic manoeuvring all the day assuring his colleagues and senior political workers not to worry by saying that all shall go right in according to the Constitution. Succeeded in convincing the Governor that he is bound by the constitution to accept the advice of the Chief Minister .Which after deliberation and consultation with Constitutional expert recommended dissolution of the Assembly and called for election under Governor's Rule. Whole day passed in suspense in the evening everyone who had access to the Radio in the state listened to the evening News Bulletin in Urdu 7.40 pm from Radio Kashmir in mid of news interrupted and said here is a flash that Governor has imposed Governor's Rule. This writer was along with Haji Buland Khan in the lawn of the official Bungalow of Late G.M. Shah, others sitting were Late Abdul Gani Lone, Mian Mohd Bashir Ahmed and Late Abdul Ghani nick named Gul Reeda. On hearing the news, Mian Bashir jumped in air started embracing each other in joy. From there Haji Buland Khan went to the residence of Mohammad Afzal Beig to congratulate him to say how 2 upheld the legs of 42.Congress had the total strength of 42 in Assembly and still lost game before two veterans. Election was announced, so selection of Candidates for the election was put in the process by the party. Teams were deputed to each district to assess the will of the people. It was the day Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah had to proceed for Srinagar in the afternoon after having district wise feedback from the deputes to assess the pulse of the people. Udhampur district was last to be called, with Haji Buland Khan this writer too found a place in the meeting. There Sheikh Momahhad Abdullah revealed that he is going with an alliance with conglomeration of Janta Party. We all came out after deliberations in the veranda White Ambassador car was already in the porch, for it was drizzling, he had to stay for the night at Banihal which he did . It was a settled issue that he is going for an alliance but next day he announced in his usual style before the gathering in the Hazartbal that he is going to contest elections alone. It is still an enigma what transpired after he left Jammu with night stay at Banihal and from Banihal to Srinagar. And he fought election held in July 1977 all alone and roped home with a thumping majority. Defector Babu Jagjivan Ram,the Deputy Prime Minister in charge Defence wanted as it has been practise to rig the election by holding counting in the Badami Bagh Contentment Srinagar , panic bells started ringing. Counter Master stroke was played by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah by pretending to be gravely indisposed. People through length and breadth of the valley started praying for early recovery ' offering sacrifices of animals for his recovery. Morarji Desi, the then Prime Minister restrained Babu Jaggjivan Ram on the reasoning that whosoever wins has taken oath as allegiance to the Indian constitution that matters. Thus it was first and last free and fair election in the state. . Meanwhile about rupees 80 lakhs were transferred by the President Janta Party as alleged from a nationalised bank Parliament Street branch, New Delhi to its Srinagar branch to Maulvi Iftikar Hussain Ansari, President Janta Party of the state and utilised within weeks' time. Second time in March 1986 again state was brought under Governor's Rule after Congress withdrew support to Ghulam Mohammad Shah claiming law and order problems in the state . Ghulam Mohammad Shah son-in-law of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was used for engineering a split in National Conference in 1984 by Indra Gandhi as the relation between her and Dr FArooq Abullah had turned sour. She detailed emissaries to each MLA, met in person some of them employing every tactics to breach in the formidable organisation. This writer smelled about it when Ghulam Mohammad Shah organised a separate convention of NC party workers at Iqbal Park, soon after Dr Farooq Abdullah did conduct convention at a grand scale. But Choudhary Talib Hussain a Gujjar Leader confided that breach is imminent because of of Smt Indra Gandhi. Same was conveyed to Shiekh Nazir Ahmed, General Secretary of the Party he was so sure about his rank and file he lost cool and said who dare to oppose us, do not bring false news. After a month or so after Holy Ramzan, one evening Radio Kashmir in its Gujjari bulletin announced that a few MLA had defected, that was enough for this writer that defection has succeeded . Shared this with those who were sitting around but asked how with just 12 odd member new Government can be formed. Responded, Smt Indra Gandhi would have not opened her cards unless mission is achieved. Late B.K.Nehru then Governor of the state and relative of Nehru had repeatedly cautioned about defection, reasoning it not in the interest of the State. Smt Gandhi changed him with an ambitious Jagmohan to carry the job. Instead after defection Jagmohan wanted to impose Governor's Rule to run the affair as was his ambition but Smt Gandhi poured cold water on it and asked to have the government formed immediately. Next day met Haji Buland Khan at Dharmari discussed the matter and suggested Dr Farooq Abdullah should be intimated of loyalty. He agreed wrote a letter conveying his loyalty and at the same time said his warnings were not taken seriously. With letter, this writer left late afternoon for Udhampur to catch any mode of transport from there. A SRTC Dak Bus to Srinagar was located late in night at Domel Udhampur boarded it on request there is an emergency at home. Next day in early morning reached Srinagar where curfew was everywhere which lasted for days accompanied with ruthless suppression. Protest against it was so intense that a paramilitary officer heading the Valley was astonished and said never all his life such massive protest has been seen by him, was injured his arm in stone pelting. The period was named Gul Curfew. From Tourist Reception centre went on foot to MLA hostel met Ch Mohammad Hussain MLA Darhal along with him and Mohammad Shafi Uri went to meet Dr Farooq Abdullah at Gupkar Road. On seeing me,they asked for Haji Sahib's letter . There was chaos , it was such that nobody knew who is where on whose sides a few had reached there by then.. After a few days Dr Farooq Abdullah went underground to avoid arrest, his mother crying foul. In the evening mission complete came back in the same Dak bus, it was 6 th July heard on Radio that an Indian Airlines jetliner flying from Srinagar to New Delhi had been hijacked and forced to land in Lahore, Pakistan. Needless to add intelligence wing did get the scent that I am on way to Srinagar, District Development Commissioner Mr Nasim alerted enroute to stop me from proceeding Srinagar but since I was in a Dak Bus which do not carry passenger and had taken every care to hide under heap of Dak bags mission was completed. Two emissaries were asked to make Haji Buland Khan to defection whatever terms first was Late Moti Lal Jailkhani, then Superintendenting Engineer Public Works Department Udhampur and second was Late Mr P.N.Kher Chief Engineer NHE Project Salal. Instead of they could convince him he convinced both indeed they are Gentlemen. Later at Srinagar, Pt Mangat Ram and Janak Raj Gupta tried their best even Indra Gandhi wanted to bundle him and bring through a special plane to Delhi for her personal efforts. Which was thwarted by us? It requires mention that it was Late P.L.Handoo whose advice to go to court cost the party loosing; instead had Late Ittoo then Speaker allowed to adjourn the Assembly sine- die things would have been different. Second time Governor's Rule was in March 1986 after Congress withdrew support over law and order problems in the state, leading to recommendation of Governor's rule by the Governor Jagmohan. Which came to an end in November 1986 as then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi entered into an accord with National Conference President Farooq Abdullah for power sharing in the state. Again readers may like to know that after accord Dr Farooq Abdullah returned to Jammu, this writer asked him at his residence why he committed mistake? it is history with Congress to betray. He said no Government can survive or function without centre's will, referring series of enclave against Congress of the opposition has brought no result . And same is being expressed by Mtr Mehbooba Mufti and that is true. Elections of 1987 in the State was fought with Two Farooqs i.e Dr Farooq Abdullah and Late Mirwaiz Moulana Moulvi Muhammad Farooq Shah. Chairman of the All Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee who was later assassinated on 21 May 1990 by gunmen at his Nigeen residence. It requires mention that he was excepting it and had requested then Home Minister Late Mufti Mohammad Syed get him arrested on some case instead providing the Security guards which would give wrong signals. After crossing of Moulvi Mirwaiz Yussaf heading Muslim League in the state and called Bakra Party in 1948 over to other side this Group went in to dormancy, till the theft of the Holy Relic from the Hazratbal Shrine took place On 27 December 1963 which threw young Maulvi Farooq still a student in the lime light thus birth of Awami Action Committee took place. Election under new dispensation proved to flip the militancy in the state. Late Late Mirwaiz insisted and got rigging done as alleged .Rank and file of the National Conference was against it on the facts which were supported from other sources including intelligence sources that maximum opposition can muster 14 odd seats. Allegations pushed Professor Mohammad Yusuf,alias Salludin to become from intellectual to a gun wielder .Another spell the third one of Governor's Rule came in January 1990 necessitated by the resignation of then Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah on the advice of Rajiv Gandhi,. This was the longest spell of direct central rule in the state. It continued till October 1996. The fourth time Rule of Governor in October 2002 was imposed in the wake of National Conference party's defeat in the assembly elections. It was the shortest spell of Governor's Rule -- 15 days -- as the PDP and Congress with support of 12 independents formed a government on November 2 2002. Governor's Rule, the fifth time was imposed on June 28, 2008 after PDP withdrew support to the government following widespread protests during the Amarnath Land row agitation. for 174 days after the PDP withdrew support to Ghulam Nabi Azad-led Congress-PDP coalition government in July 2008. The central rule came to an end on January 5, 2009 after National Conference leader Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the youngest chief minister of the state. Governor's Rule was imposed in the state after the assembly election results on December 23, 2014 threw up a hung assembly with no party or combination of parties able to stake claim for government formation and Omar Abdullah, the caretaker chief minister, asking to be relieved from the duties with immediate effect on January 7. .. The central rule ended after the PDP and the BJP stitched an alliance paving the way for the return of Mufti Sayeed as chief minister on March 1, 2015.On the reluctance of Mtr Mehbooba Mufti to take oath during the mourning period following the demise of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Jammu and Kashmir was once again placed under Governor's Rule on 8th January 2016 which ended after . Mehbooba Mufti took oath in April 2016 as chief minister. |
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