“Do they have a copyright? Let me tell you Omar Abdullah is not a kid. He is throwing others’ lives in danger. New people have come on the political horizon. They are moving with few PSOs. Omar and his father and other family members are guarded by 600 to 700 security guards,”
Shabir Ahmad
In a democratic set up, people, alongside having the right to franchise, also enjoy the right to form political parties. It is a well established norm and has precedence in democratic nations that whenever the elections, be it for the union or provincial governments, are round the corner, new political formations come into being, and new political players appear on scene with an endeavour to enact their political act, with a hope of winning the peoples’ trust. The established political parties or the big players in the field usually are forthcoming in welcoming the new entrants into the electoral fray. The beauty of democratic process lies in the fact that the final authority always is in the hands of the electorate. So no individual or party have a copy right or can claim to have a veto on the electoral process of any place, country or state.
This reality seems to have not seeped into the mental frame of the main political party of Jammu and Kashmir. National Conference, which is the grand-old mainstream political party of J&K, expressed its nervousness over the launch of a new political party formed by former IAS officer Shah Faesal.
The 2010 batch UPSC topper resigned from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in January this year to protest against unabated killings in Kashmir, marginalisation of Indian Muslims and decimation of the constitutional edifice of country. Since resigning from the service, the former bureaucrat has been interacting with young achievers with the aim of getting them to support his initiative for “corruption-free, clean and transparent” politics in the state. He had also launched a crowd funding campaign in January to support his initiative.
Faesal kept hogging headlines till the formal launch of his party – Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Movement – in Srinagar on March 18.
On the same day, National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah accused New Delhi of “creating” new political parties in Kashmir to “suppress” the voice of the people and questioned why such formations were not launched from either Jammu or Ladakh regions of Jammu and Kashmir. It clearly shows that National Conference will not see New Delhi’s hand if the new players choose to join their fold. Once otherwise happens, like in case of Faesal, Omar Abdullah will go all blazing guns against New Delhi, and would like to see it as a ploy against Kashmir. Remember, Omar had welcomed Faesal’s plunge into mainstream electoral politics after he resigned from service, ostensibly with a hope of seeing the former bureaucrat joining National Conference.
Omar’s frustration explains the immoral arrogance of National Conference, and the party’s unwillingness to allow or encourage new political party’s entry into the political theatre of Jammu and Kashmir. It also raises questions about the party’s commitment towards strengthening democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. Because in democracy, none can be denied his/her right to float a political party.
Why NC is so much perturbed and unnerved by the entry of Shah Faesal into mainstream political arena? Omar’s political beta noire and another senior politician, Peoples’ Democratic Party president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti offered a clear answer. “J&K is not a personal property of the National Conference,” she says.
“It is unfortunate that National conference considers Jammu and Kashmir as its own estate. When (former Chief Minister) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed brought Congress in Jammu and Kashmir, they called them worms of dirty drain (as a Delhi’s party),” Mehbooba has said in response to Omar’s statement.
“When the PDP was formed, they alleged the same thing. Today when Shah Faesal formed a new outfit, Omar Abdullah says the same thing,” said Mehbooba.
The PDP chief said Omar Abdullah feels any party formed in J&K will claim right on their estate of Jammu and Kashmir.
“It is a democratic country and everyone has the right to form one’s own party and do politics. Jammu and Kashmir is not a personal property of the NC,” she added.
Mehbooba’s attack followed Peoples Conference chief Sajjad Gani Lone’s diatribe against Omar Abdullah that he needed ‘mental treatment” for opposing emergence of new parties.
“Were we to give power to Omar Abdullah after Maharaja Hari Singh? He got Kashmiris killed in 2010. Before that his father got people killed and maimed from 1996 to 2002. Before that his father rigged the elections in 1987, Lone had told reporters in Handwara.
Peoples Conference chief asked Omar Abdullah if there should be no other party except the NC.
“Do they have a copyright? Let me tell you Omar Abdullah is not a kid. He is throwing others’ lives in danger. New people have come on the political horizon. They are moving with few PSOs. Omar and his father and other family members are guarded by 600 to 700 security guards,” he said.
Lone said had Shah Faesal joined National Conference, then he would have been a “good man” for Omar.
“Now he has launched his own party, so he becomes a New Delhi’s agent. Omar should get his mental system treated,” he had said.
Not only the political parties, but the common people and civil society members in Jammu and Kashmir are of the view that new political parties, mostly spearheaded by young and dynamic leaders, should come up and enter the electoral foray.
“I see a ray of hope in Shah Faesal. He is a clean slate, and not carrying in any baggage of dynastic politics with him,” said Mudasir Ahmad, a graduate in business studies from Anantnag, exuding confidence that Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Movement would be a better alternative to NC and PDP, “which have only exploited people on emotive issues”.
Mohammad Akhber from Ganderbal in Central Kashmir is a social activist. He has been a traditional NC supporter, but has got disillusioned with the politics of the party headed by Kashmir political stalwart and former union minister and former Chief minister Farooq Abdullah.
“NC has no moral ground to fight elections anymore,” he said adding the party tried unsuccessful to sabotage the local body elections happen in the state by staying away from Municipal and Panchayat polls earlier this year.
“During local body polls, NC hoodwinked people on the plank of safeguarding article 35A and stayed away from these polls. The fate of the said article has still not been decided by the court. Now how is it morally right for the party to contest parliamentary polls,” questioned Akhber.
Mubashir Hassan, an entrepreneur and social activist from Baramulla said that Omar’s frustration on Faesal forming his own political party is the result of the grand old party’s hegemonic mindset. “Neither they (NC) want to see grass root democracy flourishing (by staying away from local body polls) nor do they want to see a new political party coming up in the state, which can give them tough fight. Only they want a level playing field, so that only they can have right over J&K’s power corridors,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, Faesal’s party has decided not to contest parliamentary polls, even though it has urged people to take part in the polling to choose “right candidates”.
In a facebook post, JKPM, as per Shah Faesal, has listed the following reasons for skipping the Parliamentary elections: “To focus on public contact program and build cadre, To tell people that we are here for a long battle, To tell people that elections will happen even if JKPM doesn’t contest, To make it clear that we wish to bring change and we are not running after power.”
The facebook post added: “It was a very difficult decision but we won’t mind taking difficult decisions in the interest of the people of J&K in future also. We have to bring Kashmiris, Dogras Laddakhis, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Paharis, Gujjars, everyone together and fight this battle.
“You must vote for the right candidate and if you don’t find any good candidate, then please vote for NOTA. But vote you must,” he stressed.
The former IAS officer has delineated the objectives of his party, which include: rebuild J&K as an inclusive pluralistic society with adequate political representation for under-represented communities, promote sustainable development strategies, build a progressive, gender-sensitive political institution with traditional values and modern sensibilities and uplift marginalized communities like Gujjars and Bakerwals, especially after the Kathua Rape case.
