THE OTHERNESS OF APNI PARTY

Going by the nature of its politics, Apni Party is unlikely to find spontaneous support among people. Its relevance, if any, hinges on an absence of political opposition

- Riyaz Wani

In an interview to Kashmir Life, Apni Party leader Altaf Bukhari proudly expressed his admiration for the former J&K Prime Minister Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad. Bakshi, he said, is the creator of the modern Kashmir. “He brought the medical college, roads and schools. What did he not bring,” Bukhari said. He continued that Bakshi was buried at Khankah-i-Moula where lakhs of people prayed for him, unlike other leaders whose graves had to be guarded. This was in an apparent reference to the National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah whose mausoleum at Hazratbal is being protected by J&K Police for the past three decades.

Bukhari prayed that he also get the stature of Bakshi. Considering that in Kashmir’s popular discourse Bakshi’s name is synonymous with the betrayal of Kashmir cause, Bukhari’s owning him up represents a marked shift in the Kashmir’s political morality in the wake of the revocation of the Article 370 which granted Jammu and Kashmir its autonomous status within India. True, Bakshi’s legitimization goes with the politics espoused by Bukhari: it represents a complete break with the acceptable political narrative in Kashmir. This politics is about unapologetic espousal of New Delhi’s line on Kashmir. It can also be said that New Delhi has outsourced its Kashmir line to local actors. This way of looking at Bukhari’s politics doesn’t make him an entirely independent actor.

That said, Bukhari will draw a lot of political attention if protected from the challenge from the established political parties like National Conference and the PDP. But this would be easier said than done. Even if the top leaders continue to be incarcerated, the parties can still take part in political activities sooner or later. And also participate in elections.