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ABID SHAH
NEW DELHI, FEB 11: The fast changing policy of Central Government on Kashmir has virtually left Union Minister for Health Ghulam Nabi Azad in cold.
Azad has been Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in the past besides being an astute hand at politics both at Central and State levels. But the recent diplomatic offensive vis-à-vis Kashmir led by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram almost in tandem with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has sealed doors for players others than the State Government and local Srinagar-based leaders.
They being whether from the mainstream parties or separatists’ ranks matter more, in the new scheme of things that are unfolding now by pushing persons like Azad to the world of virtual “have-beens” vis-à-vis J&K.
This became amply clear as Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari told reporters here today that whenever Union Home Minister stated anything it should be taken as a policy of Government of India. Tiwari was referring to Chidambaram’s “welcome-back” offer made to those youth who were earlier wooed across the line of control by Islamabad.
This idea was mooted last week by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called a meeting of all Chief Minister to talk of, deliberate and review security situation faced by States as also by the country. Omar spoke of need for a new policy for return, surrender and rehabilitation of youth who were willing for this after crossing, or straying to the other side of the border under whatever circumstances.
Ghulam Nabi Azad soon expressed reservation to this provoking Omar to virtually snub him by saying that the issue was beyond the pale of Health Ministry headed by his predecessor.
And when Chidambaram after today’s Cabinet meeting here justified Omar’s idea by saying that any Indian who crossed border was welcome to return and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) was not an alien territory but a part of India, objections from critiques like Azad to Government’s new reconciliatory yet assertive overtures vis-à-vis Pakistan’s stand over Kashmir overtook them.
Yet the fact is that Azad had cautioned the Government regarding its plan to throw its doors open to dissenters from Kashmir in the past and, thus, only time could tell as to whose instincts were right vis-à-vis the amnesty that is now being flaunted by Chidambaram and Omar to buy peace in Kashmir after two-decade-long strife and violence.
For the moment Azad would have to not only wait but also generally keep off J&K politics and diplomacy. This has amply been signaled by Union Home Minister and Congress Party today.
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