ODD MAN OUT
It is really saddening that still there are people’s representatives in the UT of J&K which are self-righteous and seldom care for the welfare of the people of the region which have gone through dire straits due to decades of terrorism and anarchy. The case is of former chief minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti who remained reluctant to be the part of the high tea party hosted by the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at the Raj Bhavan to discuss various vital issues with regard to the prevailing situation in the UT. It is unfortunate that the head of the party which ruled the erstwhile state of J&K in the past was the only notable absentee from the aforesaid party hosted by LG Sinha. It is worth noting that National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, J-K BJP chief Ravinder Raina and Congress president G A Mir attended the meeting but the PDP chief skipped the same showing disregard towards the people of the UT as it was anybody’s guess that the meeting will include agenda for the betterment of situation in J&K.
As all the other mainstream parties’ leaders joined the meeting at the same short notice, the excuse by the PDP that the invitation was last minute one did not hold good. As one of the main parts of the agenda was Shri Amarnathji Yatra conduct, the LG observed that sacred pilgrimage strengthens people’s faith in the goodness of mankind and its successful conduct is the responsibility of every resident of J&K. This means a lot and shows that by skipping the high tea, Mehbooba has disrespected the people. Those present in the meeting in voice suggested that Shri Amarnathji Yatra is like a big festival, a celebration of Kashmiriyat for common man of J&K and each and every citizen of UT should ensure warm hospitality and comfort of the pilgrims. With the entire UT standing with the administration, the PDP’s stand has put the Party in ‘odd man out’ situation thus making it necessary for the party to introspect over its stand, which apparently seems to be wrong.