Mehbooba Praises Modi, Ridicules Rahul

Is a BJP-PDP pre-poll alliance really possible?

Mehbooba Mufti has done it again. In the face of how sensitive Kashmiris are about Narendra Modi – a divisive, communal figure they see drenched in the blood from the Gujarat pogrom, Mehbooba Mufti has heaped praises on Modi – this time out rightly glorifying him as a strong, decisive leader. And like last time, Mehbooba Ji has praised Modi Ji at an exclusive event in Delhi – while she might understandably continue to posture differently in the Valley. While most regional parties across India are choosing to remain ambiguous about Modi, Mehbooba Mufti has clearly indicated that PDP – despite being a regional party from India’s only Muslim-majority State – is open to exploring the ends of a political flirtation with the Hindu Right Wing.

Speaking at the Idea Exchange Programme at the Indian Express in New Delhi – in yet another clear attempt at wooing BJP into a pre-poll alliance with her party in J&K – Mehbooba Mufti has gone above and beyond the call of duty to praise the BJP Prime Ministerial candidate. Mehbooba Ji has suggested that Modi has the power, will and authority to take certain “tough” decisions on Kashmir. She has however, understandably chosen not to elaborate on what these “tough” decisions could be.

While speaking at a rally in Jammu recently, Narendra Modi had given two clear indications. One – that he is trying to reach out to partners within the State’s polity and two – that he is committed to abrogate Article 370 and remove the State’s special status. While the first indication, in light of PDP’s repeated pro-Modi statements, is making more and more sense now – the second pledge is being seen as the “tough” decision that Mehbooba Mufti has now publicly alluded to for the first time.

In 2011, Mehbooba Mufti had kicked up quite a storm in Kashmir when Sushma Swaraj of the BJP had quoted Mehbooba’s praise of Narendra Modi at the National Integration Council (NIC) Meet in 2011 at Delhi. Although the event was closed to the media, the speeches made at the NIC were posted online by the Ministry of Home Affairs on its official website. Unaware of this, Mehbooba Mufti impulsively denied the veracity of the claim by Sushma Swaraj that even minority leaders supported Modi. Sushma Swaraj then went on to present the transcript of Mehbooba Mufti’s NIC speech where she had clearly praised Modi and stated that people, especially minorities were “looking forward” to his style and type of politics.

Speaking at the Idea Exchange Programme a few days ago, Mehbooba Mufti has reiterated that – (the question of what the people are looking forward to best left to the people) – the PDP is clearly looking forward to Modi in the PM’s seat. PDP has of late been increasingly expressive about this “looking forward” perspective in the context of a Modi led country – “looking forward” to Modi’s “style and type” of politics, his authority and will to take “tough” decisions.

Mehbooba Mufti has also done something else this time – one that clearly brings to fore a growing animosity that the party harbors for Congress and especially its Vice President, Rahul Gandhi. PDP sees Rahul Gandhi as a prime reason for close, all-weather ties between NC and Congress in J&K and has recently started to take personal pot shots at the young Congress leader, who in all probability is slated to be the Congress Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 polls. Mehbooba Mufti, at the Idea Exchange has lashed out at the UPA and Rahul Gandhi – ridiculing Rahul Gandhi’s recent forefront-efforts against corruption by comparing them to “Sheila Ki Jawani” Item Songs in a film, which has by and large “flopped”.  This is the first time Mehbooba Mufti has openly accused the UPA of failure.

There is a growing opinion that this new avatar of PDP – one that’s getting increasingly cozy with Modi and unabashedly critical of the UPA – signals both the end of PDP’s efforts to break the NC-Conress ties in J&K while also indicating the start of PDP’s efforts to woo the BJP into a pre-poll alliance with the party in J&K ahead of the Assembly Elections. What happens in due course remains to be seen.

Mufti Sayeed is a staunch integrationist and his own personal political track record in the Congress testifies to his behind-the-scenes opposition to Article 370. What is PDP’s offering to BJP from their side of the bargain? Is PDP willing to support BJP in abrogating Article 370 as a bargaining chip to try and enter into a pre-poll alliance with the party? That too – remains to be seen. Speculations however suggest that something is churning between the two parties. It was the BJP after all which had facilitated PDP’s sudden emergence onto the State’s political stage.

(Junaid Azim Mattu belongs to National Conference. Views are personal. Email at junaid.msu@gmail.com)