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| 2008: THE YEAR THAT WAS | | Year of Dozens villains and a hero | |
ZAFAR CHOUDHARY
Jammu, Dec 25: Jammu and Kashmir has always inspired writers and journalists to write their way to glory. The story of 2008 would certainly go as that of a catastrophe with nearly a dozen villains and probably one hero.
Unfortunately the heroics of the hero may go unsung for his apolitical identity. Had he been from a political class he would have got not only the state but also the country pasted with his posters claiming credit for history’s most fair, free and more importantly enthusiastic elections in most odd circumstances.
The time, when official establishment and political class are celebrating the triumph of democracy, marks full six months tenure of Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan. On June 25 when Vohra landed at Srinagar airport and took a drive to Raj Bhawan it was a seen of protests and demonstrations in the summer capital city. That day two youth had died and over 75 injured at different places across the Valley in protest against transfer of forest land at Baltal to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.
At the time when he was sworn in as Governor, the Raj Bhawan was at the heart of political controversy. It was like entire Valley versus Raj Bhawan –perhaps first time since departure of Jagmohan era. The same morning then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had made an appeal for all party meeting to resolve issue which was outrightly rejected by his coalition partner. There was an elected government in place but its stability and writ could have been gauged from next days media reports where Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s shaking hand with Azad got a prominent place and larger space than Vohra’s swearing in.
While Valley was already seething in anger, new Governor’s first day had Jammu completely shut in retaliation to what was being demanded in Kashmir. Rest if it needs little elaboration here. As anyone would have expected, three days later, on December 28, the key coalition partner PDP was out of ruling arrangement but Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad claimed the requisite numbers to sail through.
By all counts there were not more than 35 members to support the government when it needed 44. Azad continued to beam with confidence and asked the Governor to determine floor strength “as and when he is pleased”. The fire in Kashmir had relatively cooled down but it engulfed Jammu and spread fast to peripheral areas. Azad’s confidence of passing the floor test kicked off anxiety among his opponents who could count their members every ten minutes and guess work among onlookers.
When PDP paraded all its members before the media and National Conference plunged into nearly “separatist mode” but Azad still claimed “required numbers”, many had through that this confidence has blessings from Raj Bhawan. Given the past experiences the suspicion only deepened and got strengthened by the afternoon of July 6 when Chief Minister inaugurated the Legislative Assembly complex and said, “I have the numbers that is why I am inaugurating this House to have first sitting here…in new next few days I will be inaugurating the Museum complex”.
What transpired between Governor and the Chief Minister on the midnight of July 6 may be known only when either Vohra or Azad write their autobiographies sometimes later. But to say the least, that midnight meeting restored esteem of Raj Bhawan which running through troubles.
After he took over the role and responsibilities of ‘State Government’ on the midnight of July 10, the state has remained under curfews or curfew like situation for two third of the tenure. Over 70 were killed in clashes with Police and security forces. This was a dark chapter but perhaps nothing under sun was possible lesser than this viewed in backdrop of what he had inherited.
Anyone who saw or heard about Jammu and Kashmir during July, August and September could have concluded that normal life from this state can be as far as moon from earth. Insiders in his administration say that there were times when New Delhi left it all to Vohra. National Security Advisor MK Narayanan’s crackdown only worsened the situation and the then Home Minister Shivraj Patil is reported to have looked the other way for a while till Prime Minister cleared the nuclear deal mess and looked towards Jammu and Kashmir, said the insiders.
Those days thinking of elections was literally inviting ridicule. The Government of India was in a fix –delaying elections bad news and going ahead with meager turnout a worst publicity internationally.
Elections are now over and past records have been surpassed. Strong restrictions were really put in place across Kashmir but no voter has come so far with allegations that he was forced to vote. Valley remained under curfewed nights and days for months but latest reports coming in from Kashmir say that streets on Thursday were jam-packed with peoples and vehicles. Restrictions apparently were to prevent coercion against democratic atmosphere. The hero may go unsung and villains may soon strike back to claim their heroics.
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