For Govt, it’s now Khanyar today and Maharaj Gunj tomorrow

After Police recruitment rally, Omar’s maiden foray into ‘Chhota Pakistan’

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Jan 12: The Indian Republic Day (Jan 26^th) is two weeks away. Twenty-first anniversary of Kashmir’s first massacre, that triggered off an unending era of killings with the felling of over three dozen civilian lives at Gawkadal on January 21, 1990, is just one week away. Separatist hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s first “total shutdown” of the year stands fixed even nearer on January 15^th.

Where does Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda, stand in such tense situation? In safe environs of the winter capital? No. In the fortified colonial bungalows on Gupkar Road and Sonwar Bagh? Not, at all. Believe it or not, Jammu & Kashmir’s most protected government functionaries, who failed to travel by road in the Valley for four months of Intifada-2010, are having a date with downtown Srinagar localities of Khanyar and Maharaj Gunj.

While as DGP held an on-spot Police recruitment rally at Khanyar---where over 8,000 unemployed youth lined up for 100-odd vacancies of Constables today---Chief Minister is making his first visit to the city interior tomorrow. He is scheduled to inaugurate a community centre in the densely-populated Maharaj Gung locality.

Last time, Omar Abdullah had ventured into this core of ‘Chhota Pakistan’, in company of two persons including this writer, in the thick of his election campaigning in December 2008. Not for addressing a rally, but only to call on the bereaved family of a senior National Conference leader, Ali Mohammad Sagar, whose mother-in-law had passed away a couple of days back. There were few smiles and waving of hands but no invectives, no grenades, no stones either, en route to Jamalata.

All mainstream politicians had been rendered irrelevant due to Amarnath land allotment mayhem in the months of June, July, August and September in 2008. Only one slogan was heard in entire Valley: “kaun karega tarjumanii? Syed Ali Shah Geelani”. With inking a deal in Jammu and subsequently announcement of elections turned the tables in Valley. Then the “youngest Chief Minister” dominated every inch of the space.

Omar survived the Shopian blaze as well as PDP’s offensive to dump him in the debris of Srinagar Sex Scandal in 2009. There was worse in store for him in 2010. Failing to gain his grip on the executive, he was virtually buried alive. But, like his age and his political Mecca of New Delhi (read Gandhi family), his stars were firmly on his side. Yet again, Geelani had staged a dramatic comeback and his slogan of “Go India Go Back” reverberated in all directions in the Valley.

Under Geelani’s shutdown calendar, entire Valley froze for five months. Omar vanished in the smokes of 114 deaths on the streets and 120 days of total shutdown. Neither he nor any of his Ministers and officers demonstrated the courage of being seen anywhere or traveling by a road. Helicopters were used even from Airport to Gupkar Road. Taunting him with “governance deficit” and “disconnect with the people”, rivals forced him to once visit a hospital in Srinagar. He returned silently as the patients and attendants, with the background music from government officials, booed and heckled the “killer Chief Minister”.

Then the “governance deficit” drew narrower dramatically again, without Omar attempting a retake. Then, last week he sent shivers down the spine of his security when he arrived in town and decided to interact with patients, attendants and officials at the crowded SMHS Hospital. Bouquets replaced brickbats as the attendants demanded improvements in delivery and officials sought more funds and manpower. After his downtown venture on Thursday, Omar will be wending his way through the second worst spot of the summer turbulence---Baramulla---to attend a passing-out of Police recruits at Sheeri.

It’s indeed the Government’s day as the last political protester has died over four months ago. What’s brewing up for the summer next? Nobody knows----whether Year 2011 belongs to 82-year-old pro-Pakistan Geelani or 41-year-old pro-India Omar. Mirwaiz and Mehbooba indeed may have to be content with their second fiddle, for now.

END