1. Home
2. Top Stories

Mustafa Kamal vindicated

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 9/20/2013 11:33:29 PM

SRINAGAR; Sept 20: The irrepressible additional general secretary-cum-spokesperson of the ruling National Conference, Dr Mustafa Kamal, today feels vindicated by the dramatic developments unfolding in far away New Delhi.
It was about three years back that Dr Kamal had gone on record to allege that agriculture minister Ghulam Hassan Mir had been ‘planted’ in Kashmir politics by the Army. But Mir’s categoric refutation had virtually silenced the usually irrepressible Mustafa Kamal. Dr Kamal, in an interview, had alleged that Mir’s nomination for the assembly polls from Gulmarg constituency was actually Army-sponsored, in 2002 as well as 2008 elections. Mir’s inclusion in the PDP-led government of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as well as in the present coalition headed by NC’s Omar Abdullah was also alleged to have been motivated by the army.
Dr Kamal had refused to acknowledge genuineness of his electoral defeat at the hands of GH Mir in the 2002 assembly polls and alleged that the latter’s victory was manipulated by ‘agencies’. The NC leader refused to acknowledge political credentials of Mir even though he was inducted into the ministry headed by the former’s nephew.
Dr Kamal had faced embarrassing moments at the swearing-in ceremony at Raj Bhavan in January 2009 where Mir was sworn in but Dr Kamal was dropped like a hot potato although his induction had been indicated to him in so many ways. It was a bitter Mustafa Kamal who later gave vent to his hurt feelings and in that course also went all out against GH Mir. ‘Omar had to accommodate Mir as he was sponsored by the army’ he alleged. However, Dr Kamal had to wait all these years to receive official confirmation of his worst fears.
No surprise that Dr Kamal today jumped at the rare opportunity that came his was after so long. He virtually pounced upon the Indian Express news report relating to alleged ‘subversive’ role of the agriculture minister and went hammer and tongs to call for immediate high level probe in the sensational matter. Dr Kamal pointedly accused the retired army chief of plotting against a democratically elected government (in J&K) and demanded severe punishment for the guilty.
Political observers feel that Mir’s position in the coalition government had become untenable after the disclosure in the IE news report. Whether Mir’s refutation of the allegation suffices to rescue him from the mess only the time can tell. But more important question is that whether Dr Kamal would let it be as it is or go for the kill now that his position has received such a big boost from unexpected quarters.