In December 1982, Farooque Abdullah was appointed as the Chief Minister of Jammu-Kashmir. He had spent most of his life in Europe. He was a British citizen and had minimum connectivity with state politics. His wife was British and he had a massive disconnect with his own religious background. Yes, he did have relations with members of the ‘Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front’ and was in touch with their activities.
Secret Connections and Controversial Alliances
He had secret connections with Amanulla Khan (involved in terror activities in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir), terrorist leader Hashim Qureshi and Maqbool Butt (He was awarded the death penalty in a murder case).
Dr. Farooque Abdullah visited Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir at the invitation of leaders of JKLF (Jammu-Kashmir Liberation Front) in 1974.
During this visit, he had dialogues with prominent leaders of Jammu Kashmir Mukti Morcha. He was exceptionally impressed by a popular leader of Janmat Sangrah Morcha (Referendum Front’) named Abdul Khalif Ansari gave a word for maintaining trust and friendly relationship with Pakistan. The newspapers of the period were flooded with his secret mission of communication with Pakistan’s salient leaders like Sikander Hyat Khan and the then Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto.
Farooque Abdullah too, had a knack for concealing his real identity, just like his father, Shaikh Abdullah. He also wore masks such as ‘worshipping Bharat’, ‘Nationalism’, ‘Kashmir, an integral part of Bharat’, ‘Orison and Salute to Congress’, ‘Powerful Indira Gandhi’, and then ‘Capable Rajiv’.
The thirty-five-year journey of independent Bharat had passed through various ups and downs. The Congress of yesteryears (of the independence era) had been replaced by Nehruvian – Gandhian dominance. Farooque too, adopted the policy of flattery and adulation of the Congress leaders. He developed close ties with Mufti Mohammad Sayed, the Congress president of Jammu-Kashmir, and one of his colleagues, Gulam Rasool Kar.
Rise of Separatism: Farooque Abdullah’s Impact on Jammu-Kashmir
Farooque Abdullah established close bonds with the Separatist leader, Pradhan Mirwaiz Moulavi Farooque, of the Awami Action Committee. By nurturing these ties, he provided an umbrella under which the leaders of JKLF could hide and sustain. It provided a smooth and comfortable passage for Insurgency from Pakistan. This entire action was operative below Farooque Abdullah’s nose. He deliberately preferred to look away and thus, the Pakistani insurgents infiltrated important government machinery such as the police force, various life-saving services, and administrative services.
Terrorist Infiltration and Insurgency: Farooque Abdullah’s Blind Eye
The atmosphere in Jammu-Kashmir was so horrifying that the police force was fearful of terrorists like Shabbir Shah. The gorilla attacks, on Jammu-Kashmir police, by the terrorists turned into a regular affair. The terror outfits like ‘Jiya Tigers’ and ‘Al Jang’ were established, very much during his regime. He permitted the Islamic Moulavi to do political campaigns from the places of worship. Taking advantage of this Ostrich syndrome, adopted by the Chief Minister, religious outfits like the Islamic Student’s League, Ahal – E – Udis, Umat – e – Islam, and Jamat – e – Islam began destroying the deep routed ancient glory of Kashmir. These organizations began the Islamisation of educational institutions, following the Pakistani practice.
Communal Tensions and Anti-Hindu Sentiments
The atmosphere of Separatism had been prevalent in Kashmir much before the advent of the Farooque Abdullah regime. In fact, the seeds had been down during his father’s rule, but till then, it was less impactful as the police would actively retaliate and the separatists were imprisoned for their spreading terror. But, with the appointment of Farooque Abdullah, instead of arresting the criminals, the ones who were behind bars were also laid off. Many among them, were trained for terror activities in Pakistan. Around two hundred such terrorists were set free by Farukh Abdullah.
In 1983, at Bakshi stadium in Srinagar, the Pakistani flags were openly fluttered and amongst the prevalent pro-Pakistan atmosphere, the humiliating battle cry of “Bharatiya dogs, leave Kashmir’ was shouted. Yet, Bharatiya state, Jammu-Kashmir ‘s Chief Minister, Farooque Abdullah looked away!!!
The police took action against the culprit but the orders from the Chief Minister’s office, again set them free. The eerie support by Farooque Abdullah provided preternatural support to fast-spreading terrorism in the state. The terror outfits went a step ahead, seeing Farooque’s sealed lips, and began issuing fatwas to already frightened and panicking Kashmiri Hindus, to vacate the valley.
Sikh Connections: Farooque Abdullah’s Meeting with Sant Jarnailsingh Bhindranwale
Farooque Abdullah’s supportive gestures were not limited and restricted to Kashmiri separatists only. He had extended his hand to Sikh terrorists and held a meeting with Sant Jarnailsingh Bhindranwale, just before Operation Blue Star in June 1984.
Exactly, what was the motive behind this meeting? Bhindranwale was neither a political leader nor a Chief Minister of Punjab. There weren’t any political issues between Punjab and Jammu-Kashmir. Then what initiated the meeting between the two?
Very soon, the news about Six terror training centers for Punjab terrorists, on Kashmiri soil, began spreading. In fact, the terror activities in both the states were operative with the help and support of Pakistan. In such circumstances, the meeting between the two leaders had an enormous impact.
In the year 1984, the Jammu-Kashmir National Conference split, and a fraction led by Shaikh Abdullah’s son-in-law, Gul Mohammad Shah founded a new political outfit, known as Jammu-Kashmir Awami National Conference. It allied with the Indian National Congress and formed a government, with G M Shah (Gul Mohammad Shah) as the Chief Minister, replacing Farooque Abdullah.
Currently, their party is headed by his wife Begum Khalida Shah, and his son, Muzaffar Shah has been appointed as its Vice President. It is a part of the Gupkar Alliance.
Shah became the Chief Minister, toppling his brother-in-law Farukh-led Government. He defected from the National Conference along with 12 party MLAs and brought down the National Conference government. However, his government was dismissed after a tenure of twenty months, by Governor Jagmohan, following the communal 1986 Anantnag Riots in South Kashmir.
Mosque Controversy: Tensions in Sachivalay Premises
Gul Mohammad Shah’s twenty-month-long regime was marked by unparalleled sectarianism. He may have had a difference of opinion with Farooque Abdullah on political supremacy but their views and conduct were indistinguishable on Hindu bigotry as well as for anti-nationalism.
During Gul Mohammad Shah’s regime, he granted permission to construct a mosque within the Sachivalay premises, on the pretext that it would help the Muslim government officials as they would not have to go far off for Namaz.
The Hindus of Jammu were petrified and their delegation met the Chief Minister Gul Mohammad Shah, under the leadership of the then Nagar Sanghchalak of RSS, Shri Vaidya Vishnu Dutt. They also initiated a mega agitation under the guidance of Hindu Raksha Samiti.
The Chief Minister “illustrated” his true colors and blatantly replied, humiliating the delegation – “I am also a staunch Muslim. I too do Namaz five times a day. It is the right of every Muslim that he should be allowed freedom and facility to pray Namaz, five times a day, hence it is valid to have a mosque within the premises of the government infrastructure.
Imagine, such an answer and condition of mind from the chief minister, who had obtained power and position with Congress’s aid. Congress, which had nurtured and progressed on the ideological conviction of Secularism, was ready to swallow the bitter pill and was bending on its knees to accommodate the frivolous mindset of the communal-minded from his state.
The agitation had taken an ugly turn and was spreading rapidly in the surrounding territories. The Hindu Raksha Samiti had declared a bandh for protest. The city remained completely shut for more than four days.
This insult agitated the Hindus of Jammu and the vicinity. The Hindu Raksha Samiti called for a strike and for four days, the area observed complete bandh. Thousands of Hindus of Hindu Raksha Samiti and other Hindu organizations initiated arrests.
Unable to handle and control the prevailing mayhem, Gul Shah escaped to Srinagar.
Immediately, the Hindu leaders abolished the said, ‘Shah Mosque’ but Shah, unable to digest the people’s verdict, colored it as a communal war between his own people.
Around the same time, the central government in Delhi ordered for unlocking of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi temple in Ayodhya. The entire nation was rejoicing but the situation in Kashmir was different.
The protest exhibition and strikes turned violent in several small streets of Srinagar, Anantnag, and Baramulla districts. The minority of Hindus, their daughters and daughter-in-law, and their temples and places of worship became the prey of brutality, conferred by Muslims.
Communal Unrest and Violence: Kashmir’s Dark Period
A larger Muslim population as well as the state government led by them and the existence of Article 370, encouraged a huge inflow of Pakistani insurgency in the state. In such circumstances, the atmosphere in Kashmir had turned frantically anti-Hindu. Not just that, it had become vocally, pro-Pakistan.
When Gul Shah reached Srinagar, around the 20th of February, a few of his trustworthy officers were accompanying him. Till then, the peace had prevailed in Kashmir valley except for a few protests against unlocking the Ram Janmbhoomi. But, as soon as the Chief Minister reached Srinagar, along with his officers, the sloganeering of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ increased rapidly. Amongst the prevailing venomous atmosphere, the grapevine spreading fake news escalated. The rumours of Hindus demolishing Mosques in Jammu as well as the assassination of more than two hundred Muslims began to spread like wildfire. The gossip about buses full of dead bodies of Muslims in Jammu, sent to Kashmir valley also was talked about.
The ominous and sinister plan was in action. The government officials and out of them, largely the police officers took the lead in the initiation of this baleful objective.
The anti-national and pro-Pakistan elements were readily awaiting this opportunity. They provoked the Muslim youth and prodded them with noxious talks of इस्लाम खतरे में हैं.
Jammu Kashmir state police had huge numbers of Muslim officers. Instead of controlling the lawlessness, supported and blazed the agitators. As per a survey, the homes and temples of Hindus were damaged and the women were harassed, mainly during the curfew hours. More than five hundred homes were looted. Around fifty houses were burnt to ashes and three hundred plus families became homeless. Numerous shops were broken and more than thirty shops were blazed. More than Sixty temples were diminished. Moreover, the farms, industries, and hotels owned by Hindus were destroyed. Chain pulling and molestation of Hindu women became frequent occurrences.
As narrated by Late Balraj Madhok in “Kashmir, Jammu Aur Ladakh”
“Following the 1986 actions, the Muslims in Kashmir valley, especially in the Anantnag district of South Kashmir, demolished around fifty temples, burnt thousands of houses and did caddish and indecent conduct with Hindu women. It was the darkest period of the twenty-month rule of Gul Shah. As per the reliable sources, the professed supporters of Congress also played an obnoxious role. The Kashmiri leadership of Congress was under the impression that after sacking the Shah Government, Congress would be able to form the Government in the state and the Muslim president of the Jammu-Kashmir Congress would be awarded with the Chief Ministership. The second objective was creating fright in Kashmiri Pandits and compelling them to escape from the valley.”
On the 20th March 1986, Gul Shah (G M Shah) stated in his address – “If by the grace of Allah, he were to reach the Rashtrapati Bhavan, he would get a mosque constructed there for praying and Namaz.”
The few glimpses of G M Shah’s speech had been published in the book ” जम्मु कश्मीर में गवर्नरी राज क्यों?” His narrative throws light on the ideology and conviction perceived by him. His views reflected that he adhered to the belief that the post of Chief Minister and the government organizations were the center for Islamisation.
Alongside, very significant development at Delhi front, was going to change the history of Jammu-Kashmir in the years to come.
The Governor of the state, B K Nehru was transferred from the post due to old age. Jagmohan Malhotra, the Lft Governor of Delhi was thrust upon the responsibility of handling the already disturbed state of Jammu and Kashmir.
He took his oath on the 26th of April 1984, when all was not well within the National Conference.
Farooque Abdullah, post his father Shaikh Abdullah’s demise in 1982, had joined hands with Congress and acquired the post of Chief Minister but the power battle within the Abdullah Dynasty had already begun brewing as to who would carry forward Shaikh’s legacy. Son Farooque and daughter Begum Khalida and her husband Gul Mohammad Shah were at loggerheads to gain power.
By now, the the insurgency from Pakistan had increased manifold and the atmosphere of mayhem prevailed across the state. The state government had failed miserably in maintaining law and order. On the contrary, they remained supportive of the communal violence that was spreading rapidly. The only solution to control such disorder was to implement the Governor’s rule in the state.
Governor Jagmohan Malhotra dismissed the state government led by Gul Mohammad Shah and imposed the Governor’s rule in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in March 1986.
Madhvi Bhuta is the National Executive of BJP Mahila Morcha and a Columnist on various Forums.
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