news details |
|
|
| Baig’s howler and Omar’s error | | |
There is no sanity in approving what Peoples Democratic Party’s senior leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig did in the legislative assembly on Tuesday but Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s response and reaction to the situation too has raised questions on his political maturity and handling challenges that come across the chair he sits in. Muzaffar Hussain Baig’s action of raking up the issue of 2005-06 sex scandal that rocked Kashmir Valley taking toll of many big-wigs in the legislative assembly on Tuesday was a clear cut attempt of causing unrest and instability in the coalition government. The Peoples Democratic Party has been rightly chasing the government on its blatant failures on many fronts over past six months but linking the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah with Srinagar sex scandal was a clear attempt of bringing the Chief Minister’s credibility down in the public eye. Omar Abdullah’s name appearing at serial number two of a certain list in circulation for last more than two years is a common knowledge. However, it was never verified by any official agency or the High Court, which is monitoring the case, whether that list is genuine or a fictitious. Those who witnessed the Srinagar sex scandal in 2006 may recall that those days there were dozens of lists in circulation carrying names of hundreds of powerful and influential people. Most of these lists were created by mischievous elements to harass the public figures and the list which Muzaffar Baig handed over to the Speaker being one of them can not be completely ruled out. Beig is a lawyer of high caliber and he knows how to avail benefit of doubt. He has nowhere said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is an accused in the sex scandal, however, by merely saying that Omar’s name appears in the last he has caused the damage which could have been done either way. With all this said, the way Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reacted to Baig’s accusations does not hold good of a leader who holds the post of such a high position and responsibility. In a fit of anger Omar first announced on the floor of the House to immediately tender his resignation and then changed his mind while writing “conditional” resignation letter to the Governor giving him many options to take. At the very first place there was no reason of reacting to Baig’s allegations to bitterly and announcing his “resignation decision” in such haste. He should have requested the Speaker to seek a clarification from the Central Bureau of Investigation (which is investigating the case) or to get the matter probed by a Judicial Commission. After all the Chief Minister carried a public mandate, though flawed, to hold his office, he is leader of a legislature party and also of a coalition of two parties. One can not take such extreme decision keeping personal temperaments above the responsibilities one is charged with. Not long ago, leader of oldest and most power democracy of the world (US President Bill Clinton) was charged with having an affair with the Presidential House intern. The charge was far more serious and real than the one Omar came across but Clinton allowed to probe go along with the responsibilities of a nation he was charged with. Though charges against him were proved but he still stood high in the public eye just for the balance of his personal and public life. Omar should have taken a cue even though the charged leveled against him are not closer to any known reality. And if he had announced to resign he should have stuck decision so that it did not look like a gimmick.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
