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| Healthy rivalry, animosity are two different things | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, July 29: The bitter acrimony between the ruling National Conference (NC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has virtually paralysed the state. Over the past couple of days, the focus has entirely been upon actions taken by the bigwigs of these two parties and nothing else.
On Wednesday, the Speaker, Mohammad Akbar Lone, had to direct the government to take all necessary measures to protect life and property of PDP MLAs, Mr. Iftikhar Hussain Ansari and Muzaffar Hussein Beig.
The direction was issued after Mehbooba Mufti voiced concern about reports of ransacking of the property of the two MLAs by miscreants. These miscreants were apparently the supporters of the NC who were angry with the two MLAs, particularly Mr Beigh for his statement against the CM made in the Assembly on Tuesday.
Fortunately, there have been some clashes between the PDP and NC supporters but things have not gone out of hand so far. If they do, law and order situation can only degenerate and create problems for the government.
On Monday, Ms Mehbooba Mufti, the PDP chief, decided that the day belonged to her and it did. Unfortunately, it was not something great or good done by her that made her the newsmaker of the day. First it was tantrums and then throwing of a mike at the Speaker, Mr Akbar Lone, that gave her the dubious distinction of being the newsmaker.
The way she conducted herself was exemplary, an example that could be quoted in any context as an example of what not to do or how not to behave. Mehbooba’s father, Mr Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, has never displayed such lung power or behaviour throughout his illustrious career.
The senior Mufti became the chief minister of the state some years ago, an ambition that he nursed for decades, but did not need to throw mikes at the presiding officer to realize his dream. He relied on the regular tools of the politicians, which include sheer cunning, unflinching loyalty of followers, turning adversities into opportunities and similar other virtues.
Mehbooba is following into her father’s footsteps and undoubtedly nurses the ambition of becoming the chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir one day. May be, some day she will be catapulted to a position where becoming the CM may just be a step away. At that time, her image and behaviour will be an impediment and not an asset.
Rewind to last year’s Amarnath land row which engulfed both the regions, Jammu & Kashmir, and which claimed Ghulam Nabi Azad government. All through that period, Mehbooba contributed significantly to the bitterness between the two regions by her incendiary statements. Her father stayed firmly in the background and was as inscrutable as ever even during that grave crisis.
The Chief Minister, Mr Omar Abdullah, became the youngest CM of the State on January 5 this year. On Tuesday, he almost reached a point where he would have become the CM with the shortest tenure, because of his short fuse.
The CM almost fell into the trap laid for him by his detractors in the PDP, led ably by brilliant Muzaffar Hussein Beigh. It is due to the sagacity of his friends, as also father, Mr Farooq Abdullah, that Omar continues to be the CM. Left to his own judgment, he would have perhaps been past, not the present CM, by now.
It is not for nothing that Mr Beigh is known as a lawyer with the sharpest skills of argument and persuasion. He used them to such deadly effect on Tuesday that Omar had what can be termed in the aviation parlance as near-miss.
The CM will do well to sit back and analyse his actions threadbare because the provocations from the opponents will continue to be a part of his everyday life.
In his speech, Mr Beigh quoted a famous dictum: Ceasar’s wife must not only be chaste but even seem to be chaste. Omar took these words, meant as a bait, on their face value and wrongly picked up the gauntlet thrown at him. He should have remembered that sometimes, in fact often, discretion is better part of valour.
His impulsive behaviour, however well-intentioned, has made him look like a person who can be easily provoked. He should remember that in Islam, as in other religions, Sabr (patience or fortitude) is considered one of the highest virtues.
If Mehbooba and Omar, who represent the generation next in J&K of their respective families, behave irresponsibly, the state will suffer. They need to tell their partymen that they are rivals, not enemies.
They need to give this message to their cadres, unambiguously, that competitive rivalry leads to good politics. If they fail to do so, animosity between the two parties will grow with disastrous consequences.
Interestingly, both of them never tire of telling the mainstream Indian leaders that they should forget the bitterness with Pakistan and move ahead to resolve differences. Why can’t they both practice what they preach to the mainland politicians?
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