High on rhetoric but low on action

TROUBLED TERM During his tenure of two years after the 2017 by-elections, Farooq Abdullah’s critics say he focused on India-pak ties than on developing health, education and infrastructure in his constituency; his supporters say being a national leader he

SRINAGAR : The flamboyant patriarch of the National Conference will be contesting the parliamentary election from Srinagar on April 18. He won the by-election to the constituency in April 2017 and got a term of less than two years. The by-election saw a 7% turnout, the lowest in three decades, and led to the killing of eight civilians in firing by security forces on polling day on April 8, 2017. Like the tumultuous polling day, his two-year tenure was marred with violence in the Kashmir Valley.

Abdullah’s supporters say that he initiated developmental works during his short tenure besides participating in debates and raising issues of national and international importance in Parliament. His opponents, however, say he relied on political rhetoric around Indiapakistan issues than actually working for the uplift of the constituency.

IGNORED PEOPLE’S ISSUES, SAYS PDP

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Nazir Ahmed Khan, who he defeated by more than 10,700 votes in the by-elections, said Abdullah did not visit his constituency when he was needed most. “There were no developmental works. The constituency development fund (CDF) grants were distributed to certain areas by his political cohorts. People are unhappy. He was not even able to initiate a debate in Parliament on Kashmir’s development,” Khan said.

“Many MPS managed to waive credit loans of farmers in their states. He did not talk about this in the Lok Sabha,” he said.

Khan said Abdullah always talked about India and Pakistan rhetoric than looking into developmental and infrastructural needs of the people. “The Kashmir issue is also important but you can’t always hinge on rhetoric. That is why people here are not interested in votes because nobody talks about them and their needs in Parliament,” he said.

HEALING TOUCH

Abdullah’s political adviser and constituency in-charge, Mushtaq Guroo, however, said that the MP had spent more than Rs 13 crore in his tenure of less than two years. “He initiated works in the health, electricity and road sectors. Two hospitals, such as the Sher-e-kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences and GB Pant Children’s Hospital, besides primary health centres were provided Rs 1.5 crore. A critical care ambulance was also provided in Beerwah, Budgam. Power transformers were set up and the low tension wire network improved. The condition of lanes and bylanes of Srinagar and Ganderbal were improved,” Guroo said.

He rejected the opposition’s charge that Abdullah only talked about issues beyond development. “He is a top national Muslim leader. He can’t restrict himself to his parliamentary constituency or Kashmir. During the Mahagathbandhan talks, he was an important leader,” Guroo said.

“Abdullah has taken up Kashmir’s development. He talked about railways, night landing at Srinagar airport and work related to Zojila tunnel among other important issues,” he said.

NO EXPECTATIONS

At 81, he is perhaps one of the oldest and influential mainstream politicians in the state and will be again fighting the Lok Sabha elections from Srinagar constituency, comprising Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts. He was earlier elected to the Lok Sabha in 1980 and 2009. In 2002, he became a member of the Rajya Sabha and then again for the second term in February 2009. He has been the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir thrice in 1982, 1986 and 1996.

He lost the Lok Sabha seat to PDP’S Tariq Hameed Karra in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections but won it again in April 2017 after the seat fell vacant when Karra resigned from the PDP and the Lok Sabha. Like last time, the National Conference will get an open field in Srinagar constituency after their alliance with the Congress.

Arif Ahmad, a resident of Lal Bazaar in Srinagar, says that Abdullah has no achievement to boast about. “See the ground reality. He needed to supervise three districts but where did he go and what did he do? He was waiting for a Union ministry. People have no expectations from him. Why did they ally with the Congress that has no ground here in Srinagar,” Ahmad said.

Shabir Ahmad Mir, a 35-year-old businessman of Budgam, says Abdullah failed to make any visible impact in terms of development in Budgam.

“We only saw him making promises but he never returned to the people after he was elected. Our health and education sectors and roads too are in a dismal state. The Budgam district hospital looks like a small health centre,” Mir said.

“We were promised a Urdu university) in Patvow. Land was identified but AGE: 81, PARTY: National Conference, QUALIFICATION: MBBS

POSITIONS HELD: President of the National Conference, former chief minister and Union minister

ELECTORAL RECORD: Three-time chief minister of J&K in 1982, 1986 and 1996-2002

HIGH POINT: When he was elected J&K chief minister in 1996 with a thumping majority

LOW POINT: When his ambition to become vice-president of India was not entertained construction never started. He did not press to finish the four-laning of the Humhama-budgam road. He didn’t speak on our behalf,” he said.

The Kashmir issue is also important but you can’t always hinge on rhetoric. That is why people here are not interested in votes because nobody talks about them and their needs in Parliament.

NAZIR AHMAD KHAN, People’s Democratic Party leader

LACK OF CHOICE

NC Kashmir president Nasir Aslam Wani said Abdullah did not have a full term hence he could not function to his potential.

“Despite the incomplete term, he worked at the grassroots and tried his best to distribute the MPLAD fund for youth, education, electricity and skill development,” Wani said.

Political commentator and professor of political science at Kashmir University and the central University of Kashmir, Noor Ahmad Baba, says that Abdullah did well when it came to the visibility of politicians from the region.

“He speaks well not only in Parliament but also outside. He may have his own ideology with which others may not be comfortable but he is articulate and expresses himself strongly. He may not be ideal but there is no other better person,” Baba said.

(Series concluded)

Questions

Farooq’s record State average National average