Srinagar, 10 Sep (KNB): A political controversy has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir following remarks by National Conference chief spokesperson and Zadibal MLA Tanvir Sadiq about extreme poverty in Kashmir during the time of party founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, however, questioned why Sadiq should apologise for describing the poverty that existed in Kashmir, arguing that references to the socio-economic conditions of the past should be viewed in their historical context.
Reacting to Omar Abdullah’s position, BJP spokesperson Danish Bhat launched a sharp attack, saying that giving political positions to close associates may “pass for politics”, but dragging an entire civilisation into a political argument was a different matter.
Bhat argued that if historical accounts, including writings attributed to Walter Lawrence, could be cited to describe the poverty of Kashmiris, then the same standard should also be applied when discussing the political history and legacy of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah.
He also referred to a 1982 pamphlet titled Life of Sheikh Abdullah: An Open Book, which, according to Bhat, portrayed Sheikh Abdullah as a corrupt leader and land grabber and alleged that he had amassed wealth worth Rs 20 crore.
“If you want to weaponise history, Omar Abdullah, have the courage to accept the whole record,” Bhat said, accusing the National Conference leadership of what he termed “dynastic arrogance.”
The remarks have opened another political debate over how Kashmir’s historical poverty should be portrayed and whether references to the past should be used in contemporary political discourse.
Sadiq had stated that poverty and destitution in Kashmir had once been so severe that people in entire villages or localities would sometimes share a single pair of trousers or pyjamas, locally referred to as yazaar, with the garment reportedly being borrowed from a mosque when someone needed to travel to the city. His remarks have drawn criticism from political opponents, who have termed the reference derogatory and demanded an apology. (KNB)