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| Freeing Geelani, launch of Third Front politically motivated | | NC playing cards smartly | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Oct 31: Whatever the explanation the leaders offer to the formation of Third Front and how the government justifies letting hard-line separatist leader Sayed Ali Shah Geelani free, the move seems to be a politically motivated with an eye on 2014 Parliament and Assembly elections. Though letting Geelani free is purely a government decision and this decision according to sources was taken consciously by the Omar Abdullah government and the timing was perfect.
The move offices are already closed and Geelani's activities will have no bearing on the functioning of the Civil Secretariat and it will be a free for all situation here in Kashmir. Secondly, Geelani will be free to campaign for poll boycott till April next year when the Parliament elections are scheduled to be held. By the time elections would be held and National Conference would be the ultimate beneficiary of the boycott campaign of Geelani.
This was in this backdrop that opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) smelled rat over the government intentions behind the move saying that speculations were galore that Geelani was released by the government to serve its own political interest.
"Apprehensions are there and many people believe that perhaps Geelani was released only because National Conference (NC) is benefited by his poll boycott campaign," Naeem Akhtar of PDP had said on Wednesday.
Akhtar had accused National Conference (NC) of playing 'dirty politics' and claimed that PDP believes in 'fair' contest.
PDP's apprehensions immediately proved correct when for the first time since 1989 any NC leader endorsed rather described Geelani as a leader having strong support base. Rural Development Minister and senior NC leader, Ali Mohammad Sagar stated that Syed Ali Shah Geelani has 'strong' foothold in Valley and people here follow his calls. This statement was more than sufficient to judge the intentions of the government behind the move of letting Geelani free.
Prior to this Additional General secretary of NC, Dr. Mustafa Kamaal issued a statement which was crafted in a way to provoke Geelani for intensive boycott campaign.
Coming to the next point, observers believe that NC would be the ultimate beneficiary of the third front formation in Kashmir. And some even suggest that there is a covert understanding between NC leadership and CPI(M) State secretary, M Y Tarigami, PDF Chairman, Hakim Mohammad Yasin and their companions over the formation of third front. They suggest that both Tarigami and Hakim are likely to face tough contest from PDP in their respective constituencies on one hand and on the other hand NC has very insignificant presence in these constituencies. However, both Tarigami and Hakim have some kind of followings in the neighboring constituencies that could have bearing on the election results in these constituencies. The Third Front has been created to help NC which is facing serious anti-incumbency, opines a senior journalist.
He said that the governments usually announce some populist measures during the election year but NC having very little to offer to the people has crafted a different kind of strategy to fight its opponents. |
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