[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]E[/dropcap]ver since Kashmir valley is embroiled in cycle of violence in the aftermath of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8 the Jammu & Kashmir (J & K) Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is facing a tough time especially in the absence of her mentor and party patron Mufti Mohd Sayeed.
In the initial days of uprising when the local youth clashed with security forces every day, she remained a mute spectator.
As the valley came to a standstill, stone pelters ruled the streets and angry youth took charge of their destiny in their own hands there was very little the first woman chief minister of J & K could do to reverse the situation from taking an ugly turn.
In the initial days of uprising when the local youth clashed with security forces every day, she remained a mute spectator.
After some time when the level of violence escalated and innocent children became victims of the mindless violence and received pellet gun injuries she chose to hit back at those vested interests who were channelizing the anger to fulfill their own agenda. She was targeted for using heavy force to crush the agitation and resorting to excessive use of force.
She even annoyed Kashmir press by announcing a crackdown and curtailing their freedom to report by issuing a gag order and then reversing the same but failed to contain the situation or establish a dialogue with the affected population.
As time passed by and the situation showed no signs of improvement a whisper campaign was launched in the corridors of power over her credentials as Chief Minister and her astuteness in handling the political crisis at hands. Opposition leaders like her bête noire Omar Abdullah, working President of the National Conference, accused her of not handling the affairs of the state in a responsible manner.
He blamed her for “total administrative failure” and a state of complete “anarchy” prevailing in the Kashmir valley.
He added that Pakistan may have incited the fire lit by the Indian government’s faulty handling of the situation but the fault primarily lies with the J & K government.”
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]I[/dropcap]n the past also whenever her leadership abilities came under the scanner she came out victoriously winning the toughest of all political battles of her life but this time even she faltered in reading the situation and containing the anger on the streets of Kashmir valley.
The real challenge of restoring order in Kashmir valley would confront her even while she was occupying a comfortable chair in her office chamber in Jammu.
To be fair, she was not at fault and even when the cycle of violence began everything was in order and the state was looking ahead to an incident free tourist season and smooth conduct of the annual Amarnath yatra.
Suddenly, the killing of Burhan Wani changed the script and all the political initiatives and confidence building measures adopted and implemented on ground zero vanished into thin air.
Kashmiri citizens spewed venom against the BJP-PDP alliance govt. in the state and outright blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi led union govt. for all their miseries.
Now as the Union Govt. has prevailed upon J & K Chief Minister and extended all their support to restore normalcy by reining in anti-national forces and nuisance makers within the government and to reach out to the disgruntled youth and alienated population she is once again trying to consolidate her grip over the administration.
In another few days after the durbar move, offices would be closed down in Kashmir valley and the seat of power would be shifted to Jammu. The real challenge of restoring order in Kashmir valley would confront her even while she was occupying a comfortable chair in her office chamber in Jammu.
The very fact that Mehbooba Mufti has risen from the party ranks and labored hard under the shadow of her father she cannot be left stranded midway on her long journey. So far New Delhi has extended her an olive branch and has been carefully guiding her to crush the ongoing agitation before restoring order in the Kashmir valley.
Now it remains to be seen whether she is able to walk the talk and deliver her promise of rebuilding devastated Kashmir by remaining in the company of Prime Minister Narendra Modi or part ways to salvage her own image in the eyes of electorate.
Either way Mehbooba Mufti herself has to decide whether she wants to carry forward the legacy of her father Mufti Mohd Sayeed by way of applying ‘healing touch’ to the masses or she will establish her credentials as first woman chief minister of the troubled torn state by cracking her whip and silencing those voices who were apprehensive of forging an alliance with the BJP.
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