A reluctant contestant, JKNC’s Mian Altaf Ahmad holds the dual status of being a politician and a spiritual leader of the Gujjars. In the Lok Sabha election for Anantnag-Poonch, the exciting part to be seen is if he manages to retain both hats, reports Syed Shadab Ali Gillani
JKNC’s Mian Altaf Larvi has his own testing times in the about-to-conclude Lok Sabha elections. Moving out of the Kangan home turf for the first time, he will eventually have to see if his religious authority equals his political popularity. This, however, goes against his politics because “he never played an ethnic or faith card”.
Altaf hails from Wangath, a picturesque spot that overlooks most of the Kangan valley and his family has political and spiritual influence on the tribal community across Jammu and Kashmir. His three generations have won nine assembly elections since 1967. These include five by Altaf since 1987. The family has kins across the erstwhile state including Rajouri.
His candidature has made the contest in the challenging Lok Sabha seat interesting, where he is pitted against Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti. She has won the pre-re-drawn constituency twice, in 2004 and 2014, when Poonch-Rajouri was not part of the segment. In 2019, however, JKNC clenched the seat and pushed Mufti to the third position. This was the key argument with Omar Abdullah when he declared that his party would contest the seat and not share anything with PAGD.
Too Much On Stake
Unlike Mehbooba, who has the party’s revival at stake in this seat, Mian Altaf is staking his identity by getting into the contest. He is not only an un-defeated political leader but also a spiritual leader among the tribal Gujjar and Bakerwal communities of Jammu and Kashmir. The community makes up a significant section of the redrawn constituency’s electorate. Besides, Altaf holds a legacy and has a long family history, which is also at stake.
Mian sahab, as his followers fondly call him, did not want to contest this election. “It is true that I was reluctant to contest this election. Earlier also I was offered to contest but I refused that time and it proved good for me,” Mian said. “This time when I was offered I was reluctant but the demand of the situation forced me to contest and be part of the process.”
One day, when a report said that Mian was unwell and may not contest, the news spread like wildfire. It triggered panic in Kashmir’s political landscape. It led JKNC Vice President, Omar Abdullah, to rush to Kangan and to enquire about the health condition of his party mate. Later, Altaf issued a video statement recorded by his son Mehran, to announce that it was a fact that he had health issues but doctors have ruled that it is all right and he will continue the campaign.
Huge Following
Most of Mian’s followers are from the Gujjars-Bakerwal community. At Wangat, where all the senior Mian’s are resting in a shrine, is a major spiritual space for the community. Every year, tens of thousands of people from across Kashmir ensure their presence at the shrine. After Mian Bashiruddin’s demise, Mian Altaf succeeded him and is holding the dual status – a political leader and a spiritual guide.
“Contesting from this constituency also stems from the fact that this constituency has suffered the most due to the delimitation process,” Mian said. “Our party always wanted to put somebody who has a high chance of winning, like every party does. And by the grace of Almighty, I have a good following and well-wishers in these regions who also insisted me to contest.”
The Lok Sabha constituency comprises 18 assembly segments. Of them, only Kokernag is reserved for Scheduled Tribes in Kashmir. However, in the Rajouri Poonch region, six assembly seats are reserved. The major crisis for this constituency is that two communities have ST status – Gujjar, Bakerwal and Pahari-speaking people. Paharis are supposed to be more than half of the electorate (4 lakh out of 7.35 lakh) on the other side of Pir Panchal.
Interestingly, Mian Altaf, a thorough gentleman said he has hardly engaged in any tribal politics and has the reputation of being a mainstream politician who never saw things from a parochial prism of tribes, ethnicity and faiths. This time, however, he may have to use his status as Gujjar leader to his advantage. The family has its religious status as the only constant. Politically, his grandfather was with the JKNC and then his father moved to Congress and finally, Mian returned to JKNC in 1987.
Scary Status
It is Mian’s contest that is scaring others. From day one, Mehbooba Mufti has been accusing JKNC of using religion cards and scaring people by raising fear of going against the Pir. “It is wrong to play Peer-Mureed (spiritual leader and disciple), which is a noble relationship not driven by vote bank politics. Religion should not be brought into politics.” Mehbooba used to say while extensively campaigning in the region. “What I observed after meeting various delegations, is one community (Gujjars) is afraid of the fatwa politics, and the other (Pahari) community fears being harassed at the hands of the administration if it openly comes out in support of PDP.”
From the region, there were some voices in unison as well, who wished to distinguish between Mian as a politician and Mian as a spiritual personality. Even a fatwa was issued that many members of the community attempted to challenge. However, this is something that is the key factor in Mian’s nomination by his party. He is widely respected and personally knows most of the constituency, especially in Rajouri and Poonch because of his following and relations.
“Mian Altaf is fighting for the unrepresented communities. She (Mehbooba) accuses Mian sahab of using a religion card while she herself keeps calling her father Mard-e-Momin,” Omar Abdullah told a gathering at Ashmuqam. “Mian sahab is fighting against communal forces, who are trying to create a rift between the communities. Our INDIA block has the motive to fight these communal hatred forces, and Mian sahab represents us here.”
Mian, however, thinks differently. “Everyone is talking about me as a Pir or a spiritual leader. I accept that there are a lot of people who respect me as a Pir but at the same time I want to be clear that my family has always worked for the betterment of people be it in Kashmir or Rajouri and this is also a factor that people respect my family as they are aware about everything,” Altaf said, insisting on every single word.
Interestingly, he was declared as the Wali-e-Ahad, the heir apparent, in 2017 by his father. His great-grandfather, Baba Jee Sahib Larvi, his grandfather, Mian Nizamuddin Larvi, and his father, Mian Bashir Ahmed Larvi, were all religious figures to the Jammu and Kashmir’s Gujjar and Bakerwal communities. The three generations were in politics. His father was close to Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Mir Qasim, and Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad and served as a minister in their governments. He was close to Indira Gandhi too.
A Non-Resident
Besides, Mian Altaf is being accused of being ‘non-local’ to the constituency. It is in fact true with all the three JKNC candidates – Omar is a Srinagar voter contesting from Baramulla and dubbed tourist by Sajad Lone; Agha Ruhullah is a Budgam voter contesting from Srinagar and Mian is a Kangan voter contesting from Anantnag-Poonch.
Mian sees no issues with it. From Lakhanpor to Uri, he believes Kashmir is one. “I am not a stranger to the area. I have worked in this area in challenging times,” Mian said. “Remember the Chattisinghpora massacre. That night I was in Anantnag Hospital. I have headed the development board in Kulgam for many years and my father has once contested and won from Poonch. What is the new thing they are talking about?”
Destiny Matters
A firm believer in fate and destiny, Mian said he has no issues with what people say. “Let people decide,” he said. “I think I have a comfortable situation partly because people know me and partly because the party has a strong following. Besides, our allies are also extending us support.”
Interestingly, Mian, 66, is the wealthiest candidate in Jammu and Kashmir with assets valuing up to Rs 20.93 crore. However, the gentleman politician neither flaunts his wealth nor his status. A down-to-earth man, he usually thinks positively about almost everything. He sees the delimitation as one of the worst atrocities in the region and hopes it will be undone in 2026. His priority is a tunnel on the Mughal Road.
Mian is an interesting politician because he has a reputation that nobody can personally attack him as he has no baggage. He has excellent relations with all the parties in a few cases all political parties have somehow some of his relatives in it. At one point in time, political grapevine suggests, the BJP was so keen to get him in but he was unwilling. His detractors insist that Mian Sahab is too gentle to be in the Lok Sabha.
