Dr Farooq Abdullah is a complex character. He started his political journey as a freedom fighter and ended up as a Khudai Faujdaar for India. He mostly says that Kashmir is an Atoot Ang (inseparable part) of India, but at times he seems ready to have second thoughts on accession. He issues frequent statements against Pakistan, but thanked Islamabad for facilitating peaceful and fair elections in Jammu and Kashmir in 2008. He accepted Jagmohan as his Guru in 1986, but resigned in protest when the latter was appointed the Governor of the state for a second term in 1990. He respected JKLF ideologue Muhammad Maqbool Bhat, but facilitated his execution in 1984. His father’s most trusted lieutenant, Mirza Muhammad Afzal Beg, was perhaps the only person to understand him fully. In one speech, Beg urged the people of Kashmir not to take him seriously. Farooq ended his self-imposed exile in 1996 and, after assuming the office of the Chief Minister, started firing paper missiles at Pakistan. During those times, he acted more as the Foreign Minister of India rather than the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. He suggested military action against Pakistan and surgical strikes in Azad Kashmir to destroy what he described as terrorist camps. Fortunately, nobody took him seriously in Islamabad and New Delhi and the two neighbours did not go for another war. Farooq’s frequent statements against Pakistan forced a fellow scribe to do some digging. It came to light that the then Director for Information was issuing most of the statements on his own on behalf of the Chief Minister. He respected JKLF ideologue Muhammad Maqbool Bhat, but facilitated his execution in 1984. His father’s most trusted lieutenant, Mirza Muhammad Afzal Beg, was perhaps the only person to understand him fully. In one speech, Beg urged the people of Kashmir not to take him seriously. The Chinese interference in Ladakh gave sleepless nights to New Delhi in 2011. Realizing the sensitivity of the issue, the External Affairs Ministry issued extremely cautious statements. The Army chief also issued a highly-guarded statement. He said: “The issue can be solved through negotiations with Beijing.” But Farooq Abdullah was angered by the presence of the Chinese in `Bharat Mata’ that he fired yet another paper missile, this time at China. On October 1, 2011 on his arrival in Jammu, Farooq said: “Beijing has betrayed us. The Chinese Prime Minister had assured New Delhi of his friendship during his recent visit. The government of India will teach Beijing a lesson after winter ends.” The minister for renewable energy once again behaved as India’s External Affairs Minister. No action has been taken against Beijing, and a video circulated widely shows the plight of Indian soldiers at the hands of their Chinese counterparts. Farooq issued an uncalled-for statement in 2010 when everybody in the sub-continent was worried about peace. He ruled out talks with Islamabad unless the Mumbai attack-accused were brought to justice. Surprisingly, nobody in New Delhi sought any clarifications from him. This time he had encroached into the domain of the PMO, and the Home and the External Affairs ministries. Political commentators believe that Dr Farooq suffers from `a behavioral problem.’ When he is in power, he ventures into areas where angels fear to tread, and talks sense only when out of power. The National Conference lost the 2002 elections and had to sit in the opposition. The six-year-long wait for power had a nice effect on his nerves. Speaking at a book release function in Jammu in November 2007, Farooq said that the excesses by the Army and other security agencies had forced his party to have a second look at accession. He thanked Pakistan and the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen for ensuring smooth and peaceful assembly elections in 2008. Farooq said what no Indian would ever say. He conveyed that it was Pakistan and the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, and not the security agencies, which had ensured peaceful elections in Jammu and Kashmir. But after enjoying power, Farooq is again at his best. Yet another paper missile has been fired at Pakistan. Hopefully, as usual, it will miss the target. Farooq Abdullah returned from Pakistan-administered-Kashmir in July 1974 along with his friends. They addressed a gathering at Lal Chowk on July 7 and threatened a militant struggle in case the dialogue between the Plebiscite Front and New Delhi failed to yield the “desired results.” However, responding to this, Mirza Afzal Beg urged the gathering not to take him (Farooq) and his friends from Mirpur seriously.” “They are a sentimental lot,” he said. During his Pakistan visit, Dr Farooq met Maqbool Bhat and agreed with him in principle to work for the “liberation of Kashmir.” Leaders of the JKLF say with authority that Farooq joined their party during his visit to Pakistan. A noted columnist and former bureaucrat is a witness to a 1975 incident: “It was 1975. The political firmament of Jammu and Kashmir had changed. The National Conference had been revived, and people were desperate to join it. Farooq Abdullah was taking Waheed Raina and Sharief-ud-Din to Ghulam Rasool Kochak’s residence.” “Kochak, Waheed and Sharief-ud-Din had joined the Swatantra Party and were desperate to come back to the National Conference which they had deserted. Farooq had promised to drive them to the National Conference office.” “During the journey, Wahid and Sharif-ud-Din discussed Maqbool Bhat as Farooq Abdullah and the bureaucrat listened keenly. One of them said Maqbool was a double agent and not a real freedom fighter. This angered Farooq so much that he humiliated the individuals whom he had promised rehabilitation in the National Conference. He lost his cool and even called them bastards.” NEWS INFORMATION Posted in Opinion
Posted on: Thu, 12 Sep 2013 05:10:42 +0000
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