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| Frightened Abdullahs could be on warpath? | | Kamal's New Role | | Rustam
JAMMU, Oct 7 : Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah converted the Muslim Conference into National Conference (NC) in 1932 to create an impression that he stood for secularism and democracy and that it would work to strengthen democracy at the grass-roots level. Jawaharlal Nehru, who didn't like Maharaja Hari Singh, had played an important role and persuaded the Sheikh to rename his outfit to expand its support-base across the state. Nehru wanted to achieve the unachievable. He was blissfully ignorant about the Sheikh and what the latter actually stood for. The Sheikh stood for separation from Jammu and he also stood for a dispensation similar to the ones existed in theocratic and feudalistic states where the ruling elite exercised absolute and extraordinary powers and where the people had little or no say whatever in matters relating to governance. Besides, the Sheikh, like all other feudal lords and autocrats, belonged to a class of people who would not trust anyone except themselves and their family members. It is not an exaggeration. It is a fact which can be easily verified. Why verify? Everyone in the state and elsewhere in the country knows that it was the Abdullah family that founded the NC in 1932 and that it is the Abdullah family that is controlling it ever since then.
Take, for example, the today's NC. The president of the party is Farooq Abdullah. He became party president even when the Sheikh was alive. In fact, the ailing Sheikh conferred the office of party president on Farooq Abdullah during his lifetime to avoid a situation that could have worked against Farooq Abdullah. Farooq Abdullah remained president of the party for decades, barring for a brief period when his son Omar Abdullah headed the NC. Farooq Abdullah replaced Omar Abdullah as president of the party only a few years ago to pave way for his son to work on some new but very important assignments, including the present position Omar Abdullah right now holds. When Omar Abdullah became the party president, Farooq Abdullah became its patron. In other words, the posts of party president, party patron and chief minister are the sole preserve of the Abdullah family. No one can question the Abdullahs and the moment one seems mustering courage to question the domination and hegemony of the Abdullahs, he/she is immediately is booted out of the party. The ouster of Mirza Afzal Beg is one example, leave aside what happened to G M Shah, son-in-law of the Sheikh.
The crucial position of party general secretary is also in the hands of a very close relation of the Abdullah family, despite the fact that he has not been keeping well for years now. Yesterday, the frightened Farooq Abdullah appointed his brother Sheikh Mustafa Kamal additional general secretary and spokesperson of the party. He would now look after and control the party office. In other words, the three Abdullahs control the government and the party. Everything speaks for itself and, hence, no comment on the nature of the party leadership and the type of democracy it believes in and practices.
The choice of Mustafa Kamal could also be construed as an indication that things are moving towards a full-scale confrontation with those who appear unaccommodating or who may try to oust the Abdullahs from the corridors of power in the state and New Delhi. There are forces who have become quite active during the past few days to see the Abdullahs out of power and it is probably this that had compelled the frightened and alarmed Abdullahs to assign important duties to Mustafa Kamal at this critical juncture.
Mustafa Kamal, it not a secret, was maintaining a very low profile ever since the formation of the Omar Abdullah-led NC-Congress coalition government. There were reports that he was not happy over his non-inclusion in the council of ministers. But now this seems to have become a story of the past. The last few days have witnessed Mustafa Kamal suddenly becoming very active and representing the Abdullah dynasty and the NC in discussions and debates on various news channels, including Times Now, which has been exposing those allegedly involved in a conspiracy that resulted in the death of a party worker some seven days ago since the last four days. In fact, Times Now has created a piquant situation for the Abdullahs.
Mustafa Kamal is known for his very strong views against New Delhi and the Congress party. He has consistently attacked New Delhi and accused Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and other Congress leaders, including Makhan Lal Fotedar, of hatching conspiracy after conspiracy against the Sheikh and the NC. What happened in Kashmir only recently in the wake of what Fotedar said about Omar Abdullah and the accession of the state to India is too well-known. It was Mustafa Kamal who had launched a scathing attack on him and the Congress as well as New Delhi and dubbed them as anti-Kashmir (read anti-Abdullahs).
A reference here to what Kamal Mustafa said in December last would be desirable to put things in perspective. He had, among other things, said: "The Sheikh wanted to die in prison to 'fight last war with India'. On his death-bed, Sheikh said 'he did not want to die in his home'. 'He told me that 'he wanted to die in prison to fight last war with India'. He had realized that New Delhi had ditched him time and again…' 'Sheikh was not cut out for jail life'. New Delhi always detained him for prolonged periods to 'break his determination'. Sheikh did not die before leaving a message for the people of Kashmir: Don't bow. Keep fighting for your rights and never let anybody exploit you".
One has to watch and see what kind of role Mustafa Kamal would play in a hostile political environment that has gripped the Abdullahs. As of now, it is difficult to predict if he would maintain cool and moderation and not air views which would appear unpalatable to the Congress party and have the potential of arousing popular feelings in the Kashmir Valley. |
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