[Reader-list] Army wanted Abdullah. Any surprises here?

[Shivam V]

Army support is where the Abdullahs score over Muftis

By Ashish Sinha in New Delhi
Mail Today, 30 December 2008
http://mailtoday.in/30122008/epaperhome.aspx

NSG commandos protecting the Abdullah family, especially patriarch
Farooq, are a happy lot because the former chief minister takes good
care of them and has a more " mainstream" view of matters political.

The contrast, mainly with the People's Democratic Party ( PDP), is
significant as Mufti Mohammad Sayeed's attempts to simultaneously ride
two boats — of " soft separatism" while sounding " national" — were
detested by the security forces, especially the Army.

Any political decision on Kashmir — especially when the ball is in the
Congress's court — cannot afford to ignore the sentiments of lakhs of
troops stationed here because, at least for now, they appear to be a
more permanent fixture than any party, even the National Conference (
NC).

Personnel who have fought militancy in Kashmir say the " return of
democracy" here cannot mean a retreat of the troops to the barracks.
It is here that the Abdullahs surge ahead of the Muftis, especially as
the PDP's plan of storming the assembly on a separatist agenda failed.

Within the NC, the son scores over his father. Omar is seen as someone
who means business and is capable of addressing the concerns of the
youth, the most restless and wronged section of Kashmir today.

When Farooq took over the NC from his father Sheikh Abdullah in 1981 —
he became CM the next year — he was a political novice and pedigree
was mainly why the baton came to him. But Omar, who represents the
eagerness of the babalog s of Indian politics to make a difference,
has a better track record. Only 38, he has been thrice elected to the
Lok Sabha and was a Union MoS for over three years, handling commerce
and external affairs in the NDA government.

Kashmir is a society where the oft- promised dream of development-
driven good days ahead has not been realised.

"Farooq was in control of Kashmir twice during the troubled times —
first from 1986 to 1990 and then from 1996 to 2002. But at the
grassroots, he is still seen as a typical politician," said a senior
BSF officer, adding " Omar is perceived as a firebrand leader
committed to making a difference within the operating principle of J&
K being an integral part of India. For a society ravaged by years of
violence, that promise means a lot."