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| Gloom and pallor descends on former ministers | | | Gareeb Dass
Jammu | July 12
After winning the Akhnoor Assembly seat in 1996 election Govind Ram was inducted in the Council of ministers as minister of state for health.At that time his was a frail frame and totally emaciated.Within three months his face turned rosy.This is what one experienced in the case of late Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah,Abdul Rahim Rather,Mohd.Shafi and others.Their pale faces and infirm frame were replaced by resplendent visage and vigour after they were sworn in as cabinet ministers.It was all "power "given gift.Shah who had remained down with knee and other physical problems,and could not move about without a support was seen climbing the stairs of the Assembly secretariat in Jammu as a Minister.Alas,shah died within three years of loss of power.
They and their ministerial colleagues,including Mustafa Kamal,started experfiencing one or the other physical ailment after they lost their power.Between 1996 and 2002 Mangat Ram Sharma's ever pleasing smile on his face was gone.It returned like lightning when he was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister in 2002.Those who have watched Peerzada Mohd.Syed and Tara Chand closely would have noticed how handsome they turned when they got power.Again those who have watched Peerzada Mohd.Syed closely may have noticed that he lost the old flush on his face within six months of loss of power.
I vividly remember Mirza Afzal Beg,a close associate of Sheikh Abdullah,who became bed-ridden soon after he was expelled from the National Conference in 1979 which deprived him from the Deputy Chief Minister's "Gaddi".He was known for his intellectual excellence and wit.He lost coherence with the loss of power.G.M.Shah's face used to sparkle as minister in the cabinet headed by Sheikh Abdullah.There was added shine on his face between 1984 nd 1986 when he was the Chief Minister.I have seen that sparkle having been replaced by pale face.If by chance Shah regains power he is sure to wear a smile and shine,instead of grin and wrinkles,on his face.
Have you watched Jugal Kishore PWD Minister and Muzaffar Hussain Baig,Depiuty Chief Minister,the former put on weight and changed his hair style and the latter was seen moving around in nice stitched suits.In late 70's a genius journalist and orator,Shamim Ahmed Shamim,was counting his last days as he was suffering from terminal cancer.A week before his death he told another journalist friend "if you give me a spoon of power I will survive for many years."Again Alas,he could not enjoy power and he died as a great journalist.Power is as good as an elixir.But everbody is not fortunate to taste this elixir.Those who taste it shine and sparkle.Those who do not enjoy power they wither before time.Those who do not accept my philosophy should visit the houses of PDP and Congress ministers.Once they do it they would support my contention that power sustains life.Loss of power robs life and luxurious living.It is but natural that those ministers and MLAs who have lost power are no longer approached by people for help.
A number of minisers,who lost power when Ghulam Nabi Azad resigned,have started experiencing the pangs of isolation.Excess hair has grown on their ears.Look at Abdul Aziz Zargar pallor has replaced shine on his face.Though Dr Farooq Abdullah has experienced more of greying and balding his mind continues to be young.Within days Mula Ram's bulging tummy has started getting reduced in size.The only thing that sustains them is their day dreaming.They dream of power getting regained to them.They dream of the plans they would implement once they got berth in the council of ministers.From early hors of the morning they keep the doors of their houses wide open to see people frequenting them.But they feel disheartened when there are not many callers.If you phone any former minister he lifts the receiver or the cell phone himself. It is no longer his PA or secretary answering your call to tell you the Minister is busy in the meeting.They have adopted down to earth approach because they have to shun,even if for a temporary period,arrogance to muster support of the voters.
If anybody seems to have remained untouched by the gloom of loss of power it is B.R.Kundal.Though he tasted power as Revenue miniser for less than a month he has not lost the sparkle on his face.Nor has he lost the smile on his cured lips.It is so because he has tasted power while he ramined a senior bureaucrat for over three decades. |
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