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Pros and cons of being Farooq Abdullah

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Farooq Abdullah has ruled the conflict-ridden state of Jammu and Kashmir for almost six year now.

And in these six years, a substantial part of his time was devoted to fending off the hit and run tactics of the militants.

While the chief minister claims to have brought the boiling militancy to a simmer, statistics do seem to support the veteran politician's claims.

An official spokesman said while 7350 militants were killed by security forces in the past five years of the National Conference rule, only 6400 militants were killed earlier in the same period, under the Governor's rule.

Statistically this may seem impressive, but the suicide attack tactics adopted by the militants make such figures pale, if not downright redundant.

On the development front, the state government seems to have done well, keeping in mind the obvious constraints.

A government spokesman said, "Unbelievable though it may sound, as many as 227 bridges, including 76 major ones were constructed during this period."

But critics have a different point of view.

They dismiss the government claims of development by leveling charges of corruption against state officials, and accusing ministers siphoning off developmental funds.

But to be fair to Farooq Abdullah, there have been certain genuine moments of frustration, when his 'politically incorrect' demand for bombing the terrorist camps across the border has been outrightly rejected by the Centre.

His frustration spilled over, when he broke down during the specially convened assembly session to discuss the suicide bomb attack on the J&K assembly on October 1.

A livid and a copiously crying Abdullah cursed the stars of the Kashmiri people and 'the inaction and indecision of the central government'.

Compounding his woes were also the rejection of his autonomy proposal by the Centre.

Restoration of autonomy was the main plank of the state government during the 1996 elections.

Two broad-based committees were set up by the state government to examine the issues of greater autonomy and regional autonomy.

A special session of the state legislature was convened last year, which had discussed the issue and a resolution was passed by the state assembly, which was later sent to the Centre, all to be ultimately rejected by the Union Cabinet.

"We have nothing to sell to the people during the coming elections, which are due next year. Restoration of autonomy was a sensitive issue that could have made a big difference, but we are still hopeful the Centre may consider our demand once again," said a ruling party worker.

But the government spokesman summing up the achievements of the ruling party in past five years said, "The militant tide has turned towards normalcy and development, with sustained efforts of the people fed up from militancy."

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