How hawkish Mehbooba hijacked dovish Rajnath’s press conference
Today (August 25) was meant to be Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti's first formal press conference since the day she took oath, on April 4.
And equally, it was to be the first time that she would break her silence over the ongoing unrest, which has pushed Kashmir to its "worst ever" humanitarian crisis.
But the first impression wasn't that impressive, that too in the presence of Union home minister Rajnath Singh, who was on his second outreach mission to the restive Kashmir.
Concluding his two-day visit, Rajnath was to address the joint press conference at Mehbooba's Fairview residence in Srinagar.
Given the uncertainty of security en route, coupled with the risk of getting late, most journalists reached the venue early.
A stage was getting ready at the sprawling lawns, overlooking the famed Dal Lake. In an adjacent tent, buffet was being arranged for the guests.
But a freshly constructed hut behind Mehbooba's villa was most conspicuous.
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| The ongoing unrest has pushed Kashmir to its "worst ever" humanitarian crisis. |
A treadmill, visible from the window, was enough to suggest that it was a gymnasium, recently developed in the greenbelt area, where Jammu and Kashmir High Court had banned any fresh constructions.
I made up my mind to raise this question at the press conference.
In the meantime, someone said this construction was the "need of the hour". "Having been confined mostly indoors during the ongoing unrest, madam was afraid she would put on weight. Fitness is a must for everyone." The much-awaited press conference started well as Rajnath and Mehbooba arrived on the lawns.
Much like a gentleman, Rajnath took his seat only after personally ensuring that Mehbooba was seated.
After a brief "introduction" on the unrest by the chief minister, Rajnath started his address, draped in wisdom and oozing delicate words, much in tune with the sensitively of the situation.
Rajnath indicated the government's willingness to talk to separatists and also said an alternative to pellet guns - which have caused massive injuries among protesters - was on the cards.
Appealing to "brothers and sisters in Kashmir not to play with the future of youth", Rajnath said the future of Kashmir is linked with India's future.
Though a volley of questions was fired, he meticulously replied to everyone even as he indicated that Mehbooba should let him talk.
But the press conference abruptly ended in a verbal melee, when Mehbooba got up while answering a question. She apparently lost her cool when a journalist said she had swapped roles and views with former chief minister Omar Abdullah on the unrest.
Fuming, she blamed protesters, and even the media for the "lack of understanding" about the situation.
"Had a kid gone to buy a toffee from an army camp? The 15-year-old boy who attacked a police station (in south Kashmir), had he gone to buy milk? Don't compare the two," she said.
While Rajnath was still seated, Mehbooba stood up, gesturing that everyone should "pack up".
She did show enough courtesy to ask journalists if they would have tea.
Starving for a reply to questions, most of us left the palatial villa hungry.