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| 'Beg represented Abdullah and Parthasarthy' | | Autopsy of 1975 Accord | | Bashir Assad
Jammu, Dec 9: National Conference General Secretary Sheikh Nazir Ahmad's controversial statement on the authenticity of the 1975 Indira-Abdullah (Beg-Parthasarthy) accord has generated fresh debate in the state among political as well as intellectual circles. The statement, most likely will again put the NC leadership, Dr. Farooq Abdullah and his son Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in trouble from within and outside. It merits a mention here that Sheikh Nazir had said that Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was not directly involved in the 1975 exercise and that it was Mirza Mohammad Afzal Beg and G Parthasarthy who signed the agreement.
Though opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) immediately rubbished the statement saying that it was inconceivable that the accord could have been only a handiwork of the late Muhammad Afzal Beg without participation of Sheikh Sahab as its only objective was installing Sheikh sahib as Chief Minister and making way for his successors to the throne.
Late Beg's son and Member Parliament, Dr. Mehboob Beg while contradicting Sheikh Nazir's statement had said that 1975 Accord happened between Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Indira Gandhi and that his father was only a representative of Sheikh. "Mirza Afzal could not go to meet Parthasarthy himself, Sheikh and Indira were the part of it, Dr. Beg had said.
Talking o Early Times Dr. Beg, however, refused to comment on the statement. Meanwhile political commentators todayrubbished the statement saying that it could not have been possible without consent of Sheikh.
Noted Political Scientist Professor Rekha Choudary said that Sheikh Abdullah was very much part of the agreement. "It would not have been possible without Sheikh's consent. The question is not about the logistics, it in fact was a paradigm shift in Sheikh's politics" Rekha said adding if Sheikh was not involved in the process then how he came into power. "Coming into power, dissolving Plebiscite Front and reviving National Conference was the outcome of 1975 agreement which makes it abundantly clear that Sheikh was a part and parcel of the accord while Mirza Afzal Beg was only his representative" , she said.
However, another Kashmir based political scientist Professor Gul Mohammad Wani offered a unique explanation to Sheikh Nazir's statement on 1975 accord. Wani said that it is actually the contextual factor that matters. Elaborating his point Wani said, "Sheikh Nazir and Dr. Mustafa Kamaal represent the National Conference organization and not of the government part of the party which is in coalition with the Congress in the state and there is every probability that the statement of Sheikh Nazir is influenced by the latest developments such as moderate Hurriyat leaders visiting Pakistan and other such factors". Wani, however, said that the old horses in National Conference carrying the ideological baggage are sure to be driven out once Omar Abdullah and Rahul Gandhi occupy the centre stage in their respective capacities. "Though Sheikh Nazir and Dr. Mustafa Kamaal are giving vent to the ideological positions but the government part of National Conference is least bothered about that. However, Wani said, NC is driven by political compulsions. According to him, NC's doctrine not to annoy Delhi is to remain in power and its ideological position is not to allow its detractors to occupy the political space.
When asked to comment pointedly on Sheikh Nazir's statement, Wani said that tomorrow someone may say that Indira Gandhi was not part of the agreement does not make any sense. "Facts are facts and they cannot be changed", Wani said.
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