NEW DELHI: National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah ended his eight-month excursion in London and flew into Jammu last week all set to re-conquer the State but it has not taken more than a day for him to see that the territory is no longer hospitable. As sources in Jammu put it Farooq has to think hard before he sets foot in the Kashmir Valley which he abandoned in times of turmoil.

When he reached Jammu fast week after a brief halt in Delhi it was taken for granted that he would fly to the valley in a day or two. He himself indicated his keenness to go for Srinagar without wasting time.

But he had to change his plans. One alibi was bandh call given by the All-Kashmir Hurriyat Conference in protest against the police presence outside the Hazratbal shrine. The Conference consists of leaders who have been opposed to Farooq. Their advantage is that all along during four years of militancy they have stayed in the valley identifying themselves with the sufferings of the people when Farooq was having a nice time abroad.

The latest talk in Kashmir circles is that Farooq may have air dashed from London to assess Hurriyat strength in the valley. The briefing from his close associates in Jammu NC sources say made him wiser. A close observer of the Kashmir Scene remarked The National Conference will find it difficult to survive if Hurriyat leaders remain united and put up a non-violent front. The message though not formally conveyed was picked up by Farooq’s cohorts instinctively. The first inkling of how the NC views Hurriyat was available at a meeting of the 21-membercoordination committee of state political parties excluding the Bharatiya Janata Panty held a Jammu on Sunday. A proposal that Hurriyat leaders be invited at the next meeting of the committee evoked sharp reaction from NC members former Speaker Wali Mohammad It too and ex-minister Bodhraj Bali. Those present at the meeting convened by Panthers Party leader Bhim Singh included Mustafa Kamal younger brother of Farooq and Parman and (NC) former AICC general secretaries Mehmooda and Pradyumna Singh Mir Poonchi Om Chopra (Congress) noted author Balraj Pun Dhanraj Bargotra (Janata Dal) Abdul Rehman Takroo (CPI) former minister Mehboob Baig and Amrit Malhotra. The proposal about involving Hurriyat leaders was mooted after Mustafa Kamal had left the meeting. Conflicts between the NC and other constituents of the committee are bound to rise soon The meeting opposed the division of the State dismissing the demand of separate homeland for Kashmiri Pandits as a foreign conspiracy and sought more autonomy for the State within the framework of the Indian constitution. It expressed no opinion on the quantum of autonomy. But Farooq has already gone on record demanding return to the pre-1953 dispensation Within the NC too the party’s Jammu leaders are not in favor of return to the past.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 21, 1994