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| Let Omar play safe by following Farooq and not Sheikh | | | ET REPORT
JAMMU, Oct 9: Has Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, the potential for emerging as strong a political leader in Kashmir as his grandfather, Sheikh Abdullah, had remained for about 50 years? This question has seemingly assumed significance after Omar Abdullah, tried a short-cut method for stepping his feet in the shoes of his grandfather. Whatever may have been the reason for Omar to fulminate against the centre by questioning the finality of the state's accession with India he has displayed, for the first time since he was installed as Chief Minister over a year ago, the Shekhian temperament.
However, he seems to have not been told that Sheikh Abdullah could afford to take up cudgels with Delhi because he had the backing of majority of people in Jammu and Kashmir. The Sheikh could afford to roar like a lion because there was no opposition worth its name in the state, especially in the Kashmir valley. Hence Omar's roar may not unnerve Delhi in general and the Congress led UPA Government in particular. If by questioning the finality of the accession and if by seeking immediate settlement of the Kashmir issue Omar wanted to dethrone separatists, especially Syed Ali Shah Geelani, he seems to be mistaken.
Political observers are of the opinion that Omar can survive, out of power, politically if he follows Geelani. He may be almost be reduced to a nonentity if he tried to either confront either Geelani or make an attempt at measuring swords with him. During the last four months a situation has emerged in Kashmir in which even the moderates among the separatists have been forced to play a second fiddle to Geelani. If Sheikh Abdullah could ride rough shod on the opposition during his time he could afford it because the opposition had no teeth and the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru was not only his friend but a stout supporter. This time besides the separatists the PDP could pose a bigger threat to Omar than the state unit of the Congress which shares power with the National Conference. And Omar cannot expect to receive continued support from Manmohan Singh who is not as strong as Nehru was.
Knowledgeable circles refer to the dwindling political strength of Sheikh Abdullah between 1948 and 1952 when people in the state, especially in the valley, were inconvenienced by shortage of foodgrains, particularly rice. And the most popular leader, who headed the Government, had exhorted people to feed on beans and potatoes instead of begging for food from the Government of India. But the same Sheikh Abdullah registered a sudden swing in his political strength when he was arrested and his Government dismissed on August 9, 1953. Not surprisingly Sheikh Abdullah ruled the hearts of people between 1931 and 1975. Soon after his accord with Indira Gandhi in 1975 he regained power with the support of the Congress which was not liked by a major section of people. But the same Sheikh demonstrated his political vigour when he trounced the Congress and the then Janata Party in the 1977 Assembly election. The National Conference won the election with an absolute majority.
Such somersaults could be performed only by the Sheikh. Even his son, Farooq Abdullah had tried but failed. Farooq had become wiser than he was earlier after the 1984 events when his duly elected Government was unseated. After that he had made up his mind that no state Government in Jammu and Kashmir, even if it has absolute majority in he Assembly, can survive without the support of the central Government. It was the result of this perception that Farooq has tried his level best to keep the Government in Delhi in good humour even if such a Government was headed by the BJP.
And if Omar wants to step into the shoes of Sheikh Abdullah the former should get ready to spend some years in jail. If the Sheikh emerged as the tallest political figure it was the result of his prolonged tribulations, including 22 years of political wilderness that he suffered between 1953 and 1975. The safe course for Omar is to follow his father. |
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