BLUNT BUTCHER
Will Mehbooba Mufti proves her administrative acumen here also that was established beyond any doubt in Handwara just a few months back?
JAMMU: There is more than what appears to be motive behind the desecration of Jammu temple. It can’t be just to flare up communal passions, which indeed is the game-plan of enemies across the borders. Coming as it is in the backdrop of attack on Kheerbhawani bus carrying devotees belonging to minority community near Khanabal in Anantnag district, the incident can have wider implications, especially in view of the ensuing by-polls to Anantnag Constituency.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is seeking election to Legislative Assembly from a constituency, represented by her father, former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. It makes the constituency as also the upcoming polls high-profile. All eyes curious to see how the guiding force behind Peoples’ Democratic Party, who steered it to magnificent success in the past over 16 years, will frame up her success. Though political pundits take her success for granted yet some forces, inimical to peace and tranquility in the State, are determined to scuttle the process for two reasons. One, to demonstrate that all is not well on security front in a state that has been grappling with disturbed conditions for the past twenty six years and second, perhaps more important, to show Mehbooba Mufti her right place for putting her weight behind Indian nation.
Mehbooba Mufti has emerged as a straight-forward leader in an environment of deceit and duplicity practiced by so-called power seekers in the mainstream camp. Despite having aligned with most disliked BJP in the Kashmir Valley, she has unexpectedly shed her hardcore image to call a spade a spade. Has there been any leader, post 1990, who very firmly condemned the acts of violence by directly challenging its perpetrators. She minced no words in questioning the moral validity of those who are indulging in violence and stone pelting on each Friday. She firmly silenced her opponents, both in mainstream and separatist camps, to restore the pristine glory of Kashmir by bringing back Kashmiri Pandits. These are seen as positives by her worst critics in PDP’s core constituency of Kashmir, who genuinely feel that duplicity and deceit can only aggravate the miseries of Valleyites. Therefore, the vested interests, with active support of known peace inimical elements, seem to have ganged up to vitiate the atmosphere ahead of elections.
The young Chief Minister has also exposed by hypocrisy of the junior coalition partner BJP, which is patently been seen having compromised with its fundamentals to remain glued to power. On the contrary, Mehbooba Mufti is showing grit by calling spade a spade.
While taking measured steps to achieve the vitals of Agenda of Alliance, she has contained herself from creating hysteria by indulging in India bashing, which has been core of the policy of her predecessors in the opposition National Conference. This has obviously made her vulnerable to the actors who want destruction and devastation in Jammu and Kashmir. Therefore, the Aap Shambhu Temple incident near Janipur in the winter capital has come as a big challenge for the Chief Minister.
After having bravely doused the fire in Handwara by containing, what appeared at that point of time a flash point for keeping Kashmir boiling over a very sensitive issue of alleged molestation by the Army, the Chief Minister is confronted with yet another test to face the volatile situation in the wake of alleged desecration of a worship place in Hindu heartland. She can’t trust or bank upon her coalition partner, given the credibility deficit BJP is facing in its once strong bastion. They have proved to be paper tigers and their image is no more than that of power hungry bunch of opportunists. The Chief Minister is facing a real litmus test and it can be surpassed only by taking a firm action against the perpetrators of discretion.
That they have been caught red handed and filmed in a video, it is necessary to unfold the real actors behind the crime, who want to put the state on flames at a time when crucial by-elections are taking place in Anantnag and Amarnath Yatra is getting started in the Valley.
Will Mehbooba Mufti proves her administrative acumen here also that was established beyond any doubt in Handwara just a few months back?
