Tasavur Mushtaq
SRINAGAR
Eight days after becoming the head of restive state of Jammu and Kashmir, first challenge has knocked at the door of Ms Mehbooba Mufti – two killings after a molestation allegation.
Known for raising voice in past against the killings and other human rights violation, Ms Mufti this time is in command herself. Home Ministry portfolio is with her. By virtue of being Chief Minister, she is also head of the Unified Command.
Seen on streets earlier waiving her party’s green flags to protest she is now in the dock. She used to be everywhere; from sharing grief of mother who lost her son, to console victims of rape. She did not fear to walk into areas where even army feared to tread to express sympathy with the families of slain people. She coined ‘healing touch’ which her father took as main agenda in his first term of governance from 2002-2005.
Mehbooba all along accused former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of being ‘incapable to handle the situations’ and accused him to be ‘more invested in Delhi.’ This time Ms Mufti has no questions to ask, but answers to provide. Will she empathise with the pain of victims? How she will respond? What would be line of her ally in power, BJP.
Incidently, the killings coincided with her first meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The PDP that routinely was first to react to such incidents, might end up as the last voice. Has the throne of thorns started showing up?
