Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 1: One of the last politicians, who has grown into the mould of an upright and unblemished statesman, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed represents courage of conviction and a lifelong political struggle spanning over five decades. His vision for the State of Jammu and Kashmir as a distinct feature of the idea of India is complemented by the clear-cut democratic construct of his political thought, an inclusive polity and ingenious development.
As he assumes the charge as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir for the second time on March 1, 2015, it seems Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is destined to be the man for hard times. In 2002 when he became the Chief Minister, with just 16 seats in the State assembly, in alliance with Congress, J&K was reeling under extremely adverse conditions on politico-economic fronts. Personal liberties were severely restricted and our Army was in an eye-ball to eye-ball confrontation with Pakistan in the aftermath of the attack on Parliament.
Seen as a visionary leader, a smart political strategist and masterful politician, Mufti’s arrival on the stage and his deft handling of the delicate political equations resulted in an almost instant change in the situation, both within the State and in the regional context. His invitation to the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to address a rally in Srinagar, first ever for a Prime Minister in nearly two decades, from the PDP stage, triggered a new wave of peace efforts which culminated in withdrawal of forces from forward areas, ceasefire along the borders, disbanding of instruments like STF and SOG, scrapping of POTA and release of political prisoners. It also led to a direct engagement between India and Pakistan and of the Central Government with the separatist leaders in Kashmir.
Mufti’s vision for the State and the region articulated in PDP’s Self-Rule framework besides suggesting a slew of political measures advocates a sub-regional trade arrangement with a Free Trade Zone in Jammu and Kashmir to be implemented under SAFTA or under a separate arrangement between New Delhi and Islamabad.
Mufti believes that facilitating free movement of goods and people through the traditional cross-LoC routes in Jammu and Kashmir would help the policy makers on the two sides of the divide to facilitate the political changes that the people in the region so badly need. He sees opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakote roads along the LoC as a stepping stone towards forging a new economic alliance in the region.
Within the State, Mufti’s political focus has been on connecting communities and regions into one conglomerate of harmonious diversities. His emphasis on improving the trust levels between two main regions of Kashmir and Jammu has remained the driving force for his party PDP’s political engagement in all the regions and sub-regions that it could emerge as a unifying force that offers channels of aspirations and representation to each one of them.
Responding to the people’s innermost yearning for peace with dignity, Mufti after assuming charge as the Chief Minister of J&K in 2002, crusaded the “Healing Touch” policy to repair the people’s hurt psyche, salvage their bruised dignity, rekindle a new hope in their hearts and motivate them to mould their destiny through a participatory political process. The result was there for all to behold and fortunately, the country’s leadership, at that time also understood and appreciated the rejuvenating and hopeful political transformation in the State and responded to it in good measure.
After remaining in the Congress for better part of his life Mufti alongwith some likeminded associates and Mehbooba Mufti founded People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999 and led the first PDP-Congress coalition Government in the State from 2002 to 2005.
In the late 1950s he joined the circle around prominent lawyer and NC leader PL Handoo. He followed Handoo into the breakaway Democratic National Conference (DNC), led by GM Sadiq, alongwith DP Dhar, Syed Mir Qasim and GL Dogra. He was appointed district convener of the new organization, the first formal post he held.
When DNC rejoined NC, Mufti went with the flow. It paid him rich dividends. He was elected to the Assembly from Bijbehara in 1962, and retained the seat in 1967. As a result, he was appointed a Deputy Minister by GM Sadiq.
In 1972 Mufti became a Minister in the Cabinet headed by Syed Mir Qasim and was also elected the party’s leader in the Legislative Council.
In 1975 he was made the leader of the Congress Legislature Party and Pradesh Congress president. He continued to hold the post of PCC chief for over a decade.
In 1986, Mufti was appointed as Union Tourism Minister in the Government headed by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Mufti resigned from the Union Government and Congress following Rajiv-Farooq accord of 1987.
He later joined the Jan Morcha led by VP Singh and was appointed Union Home Minister in 1989, after having won the Lok Sabha elections of that year as the Jan Morcha candidate from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh.
Mufti returned to J&K politics after having rejoined the Congress in 1996. He won the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat in 1998, but soon resigned from both his position and the party to form the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
In 2002, Mufti became Chief Minister of the State. His party PDP won 16 constituencies and formed an alliance with Congress to assume State power from October 2002 to November 2005. PDP was an important ally of United Progressive Alliance-I.
Mufti’s first term as the Chief Minister of the State between 2002 and 2005, led to significant steps like opening of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road, initiation of trade and travel across the Line of Control (LoC) without passports and visas with India and Pakistan making some significant concessions on Kashmir.
The prospects of PDP started to shine again in the Lok Sabha election of 2014 when it won all the three seats in Kashmir valley.
Under the astute leadership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, PDP has now emerged as a dominant regional political force in Jammu and Kashmir winning 28 seats in 2014 Assembly polls with a vote share of 22.7%.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
