Farooq Abdullah: Old man of Kashmir politics

Tribune News Service

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Srinagar, March 13

When Farooq Abdullah stepped out of his detention on Friday, he walked into a different Kashmir in which he and his party face tough choices and an existential battle.

A veteran politician who has always spoken his heart out on issues knew the new reality and the choice of his first words was an evidence of it. “I will answer no question nor speak on any political matters till everyone is released,” he said.

Back after seven months of detention, which had shocked the people and his party, Farooq chose a careful detour and said he will speak on “political matters” once others are released – a hint at his detained son who has so far refused to tone down his politics to the new reality.

At 82, Farooq heads a political party which has shaped Kashmir’s politics for the past century. National Conference is the oldest political party of the state which was carved out of Muslim Conference in 1939 by Farooq’s father Shiekh Mohammad Abdullah.

In the aftermath of Sheikh Abdullah’s death in 1982, Farooq took over the reins of National Conference and also the legacy of his father. He won elections as he and his party took a frontal assault of the insurgency that raged in full fury through the early part of 1990s.

Farooq’s politics was single-minded as he demanded restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy, prided itself in Article 370 and focussed on gaining political power.

By 2000, Farooq’s National Conference faced a new challenge as Mufti Mohammad Sayeed founded the PDP – a regional party which had tried to bridge itself between separatist and nationalist agendas.

Under the Mufti, PDP first scourged through National Conference’s dominance and then routed it 2014 which left a hung house and ultimately the sharing of power between PDP and BJP.

Within his party, Farooq has remained a bridge between the old guard, who have seen the eras of bitter relationships with powers in New Delhi, and the new generation.

In politics for nearly five decades and more than half his age, Farooq was first elected to the seventh Lok Sabha in 1980. He has thrice served as the state’s Chief Minister – for the first time from 1983 to 1987, second term from 1987 to 1990 and the last time from 1996 to 2002.

He has also served five terms as Member of Legislative Assembly, two terms at Lok Sabha and two terms at the Rajya Sabha. In May 2009, he was included in Union Cabinet as the Minister of New and Renewable Energy.

The tough part for Farooq in the post-370 Kashmir will be the question of the 370 itself as the Article 370, which is part of history now, has been the cornerstone of his politics.

Fact file

• Born: October 21, 1937
• Son of: Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah
• Educational Qualifications : MBBS
• First time in Lok Sabha: 1980-1982
• First time in Legislative Assembly: 1982 – 1984
• First portfolio: Minister of Health, Jammu & Kashmir (1982-1983)
• First term as Chief Minister, Jammu & Kashmir: 1983-1987
• First time in Rajya Sabha: 2002
• Last portfolio: Union Cabinet Minister, New and Renewable Energy (2009-2014)
• Detained: August 5, 2019
• Released: March 13, 2020

At 82, Farooq heads a political party which has shaped Kashmir’s politics for the past century. National Conference is the oldest political party of the state which was carved out of Muslim Conference in 1939 by Farooq’s father Shiekh Mohammad Abdullah.