One of the last politicians,
who has grown into the mould of an upright and unblemished statesmen, 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 1 March 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 s 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 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
in 1999 and led the first PDP-Congress coalition government in the State from
2002 to 2005.
Early Life
Born in Baba Mohalla in Bijbehara town of district Anantnag on 12 January 1936,
Mufti’s early life was typical of the new bourgeoisie that emerged in Kashmir in
the middle of the century. Having graduated from S P College in Srinagar, he
went on to obtain a degree in law, and a post-graduate degree in Arab History
from Aligarh Muslim University.
Although Mufti hoped to gain government employment, he was persuaded by his
friends to start a law practice in Anantnag, and to join politics. He joined the
Anantnag Bar Association and briefly practiced as a lawyer.
Political Career
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 Peoples 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%.