SRINAGAR, JAN 20: Senior leader and former Parliamentarian, Dr. Mehboob Beg has come out in support of Mehbooba Mufti and hailed her as one of the most consistent and strongest Chief Ministers.
There is consistency and perseverance in Mehbooba Mufti’s politics, no matter if she is in the Govt or in the Opposition. Her politics and conviction finds basis in her ‘pro-people belief’, how she handled the Kathua rape case in a case in-point, remarked Dr.Beg. Mehbooba Mufti objected to the use of the National flag by those who were brazenly trying to defend the alleged accused persons, who can find faults with that? She put her foot down and backed her police force to conduct investigations. Is trusting your police force a fault? She made sure that those who were politicizing the unfortunate incident were taken to task, even if they were Ministers in her Cabinet and members of the Alliance Partner, would a weaker Chief Minister dared to do it, asked Dr.Beg. We must give credit where due and applaud her bravery and principles to stand-up despite heavy odds.
She resisted the sinister attempt to disturb and dislodge the Tribal community and allowed no politics was played on this issue. Mehbooba Mufti’s stand was made crystal clear to the all powerful Central Govt as well, the Home Minister offered unconditional talks, the cases against protestors were withdrawn, the unilateral ceasefire was announced, how can we not appreciate how she persisted with pro-people policies and made the BJP agree to matters that were politically inconvenient to them, asked Dr.Beg. She took stands very well realizing that she did not have the numbers to dictate terms to the BJP, yet she persisted and since the BJP did not have the intentions to fulfill the terms agreed upon, they had to pull-out.
The BJP had entered into this coalition by signing on dotted lines, the Agenda of Alliance was a carefully drafted ‘pro-people’ document. It appears that the BJP had no intention to fulfill what they had committed to do, one cannot do much about if somebody intends to cheat and deceive you, remarked Dr. Beg.
We have had people waste historical opportunities. 1996 was a historic opportunity, the government of the day had overwhelming numbers, but did that government dare to take ‘pro-people’ stands? Let history be the judge on that, concluded Dr. Beg.