Majid Hyderi
Last year, rumors had been flying thick and fast when Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) tied knot with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP); the marriage was fixed in Nagpur and celebrated in Jammu and Kashmir.
For BJP, it was maiden opportunity to rule the state, where founder of Hindutva ideology, Shayama Prasad Mukherjee was jailed to mysterious-death by National Conference founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah. For PDP, it was yet another chance to cash the peoples’ mandate of keeping the Abdullahs away from the throne.
After the oath taking on March 1, 2015, both PDP and BJP were happy and hopeful, atleast in the public life, where the “Agenda of Alliance” was projected as mutual appreciation between the parties considered ideologically poles apart.
PDP founder Mufti Muhammad Sayeed dedicated the last year of his life showering praises on BJP. If Mufti, as the then Chief Minister, thanked anyone after God, it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
From rubbishing the allegations of intolerance against Modi, to terming him “the most focused Prime Minister on J&K”, Mufti did everything to keep the PDP-BJP marriage alive and kicking.
But then, much like a fairytale, where magician’s life is in a parrot, the coalition government didn’t survive beyond Mufti’s last breath on the morning of January 7, 2016.
As the day of state mourning unfolded, so did surprises. Modi remained conspicuous for not attending the funeral while his party cadre and Mufti’s cabinet colleague, Chowdhary Lal Singh was reportedly seen taking selfies at the picturesque burial ground; the Dara Shikoh Park in Mufti’s hometown Bijbehara, where his mortal remains were laid to rest.
Putting speculations to rest, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti spontaneously declined to take oath as successor to her father. Two days later, Governor-rule was imposed.
For around a month, Mehbooba remained silent. And then, she started ‘singing’.
On February 3, in her first public remarks on forming a government to end Governor’s rule, she set conditions for the BJP, saying the Centre must initiate J&K-specific Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) to “create an atmosphere congenial for formation of the new government.”
Mehbooba said: “Before a government is formed in coalition with the BJP, the Government of India should take certain J&K-specific CBMs to win over trust of the people so that the new government gets space to function.”
The daughter’s viewpoint contradicted that of her father, in the party, where the relationship between the two leaders had been unmistakably harmonious.
Mufti had been all praise for Modi. “From the day one (since government formation) there is full focus of Prime Minister on J&K. I have seen Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and V P Singh as Prime Ministers but the Prime Minister Modi is focused more than anybody else,” Mufti told reporters on December 3, 2015.
A month prior this, it was typical bonhomie. Modi visited Kashmir and announced the historic Rs 80,000 crore package for the state. While Mufti hailed Modi as “Bada Bhai”, Mehbooba equally whistled father’s tune.
As per a PTI report, welcoming the Centre’s Rs 80,000-crore package, Mehbooba said besides infrastructure rebuilding, the package also includes funds for rehabilitation of victims of September 2014 floods.
“The announcement by the Prime Minister that Rs 80,000 crore package is not the end but the beginning of a process of rebuilding Jammu and Kashmir’s economy is an inspiring gesture which would go a long way in rebuilding people’s trust in the democratic institutions,” she said.
Mehbooba equally hailed Modi’s announcement of carrying forward and consolidating the initiatives of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. She also complimented the people and her party cadres for turning up in large numbers at Modi’s rally.
Mufti’s demise, however, left PDP with a second-thought, which now resembles a flip- flop.
But then the party’s blow hot and cold attitude has left people to think on inversely proportional lines: If Mehbooba is right, Mufti was wrong, or the vice-verse.
BJP leader and party’s point man on Kashmir, Ram Madhav’s meeting with Mehbooba on the evening of February 17 again brought hope, while media reports often hint at continuity of backchannel talks.
But then, why does PDP blow hot and cold? Does the party leadership suffer from selective-amnesia over relations with allies?
A similar discord had emerged in 2008, when PDP parted way with Congress alliance.
That time, the state-Cabinet led by the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had approved allotment of 800 kanals of forestland to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.
But as Kashmir took to streets for a massive uprising, PDP subsequently pulled itself out of the land allotment decision and the alliance with Congress, alike; as if PDP was not party to the decisions.
Eight years on, history is almost repeating itself over PDP’s ‘freaky’ relationship with BJP.
After a bear-hug with Modi last year, Mufti had endorsed him as the man of 56-inch chest. But now there’s a change.
If not guaranteed a makeover through new CBMs, PDP is ready to condemn the prince charming as ugly: How Funny!
Author can be mailed at majid.hyderi@gmail.com
