I didn’t buy presidentship from any shop, Party High Command elected me: Mir

‘Rahul Gandhi not Shehzada but Shaheedzada’

Former Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmed Mir has been appointed as new president of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee. He has replaced Saifuddin Soz. The Congress won only 12 seats in the 2014 Assembly elections. Mir, who was elected from Dooru constituency in South Kashmir twice in 2002 and 2008 polls on Congress ticket, lost elections in 2014 by some 150 votes. Mir born in 1959 in Damhal village of Anantnag has an experience of 31 years in political field in JK. In a brief interview with Rising Kashmir Op-ed Editor Daanish Bin Nabi, he talks about the 2014 Assembly election, emergence of BJP, revamping of State Congress, allegations of his involvement in sex scandal and his closeness with Nehru-Gandhi family. Excerpts:

·         Neutral votes went in PDP’s favor because BJP’s fear among voters

·         I am an ardent loyalist to Nehru-Gandhi family but that is not the criterion for being elected as the State’s party chief

·         In State Congress there is no lobbyism but difference of opinion

·         BJP emerged on a plank of lies

·         Existing Congress set up needs to be updated

·         Many dangerous things involved with politics but the allegations of sex scandal most devastating for a politician

·         Dooru is considered to a model constituency in Jammu and Kashmir but still you lost. Why?

After the election was over, I soon realized that at least three to four components were responsible for my defeat. Till December 11 everything was smoothly working for us. But during intervening of 12 and 13 certain some drastic things happened that changed the election results in Dooru constituency. Both the other two parties National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came together against me. There was a meeting between PDP and NC on that very intervening night. I have also reports that an influence family of the area which was under the influence of PDP called NC candidate and said to him that if according to your assessment you are at second number then we will support you but both of us should ensure that Ghulam Ahmad Mir should lose the election. Actually the basic understanding between the two was that whosoever was at number two would support the other.  And it’s but obvious that there was monetary agreement between the two parties as well. NC also thought that if they are wining let PDP but not Mir. And then neutral votes also went in favor of PDP because of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fear among voters. To stop the BJP from coming to power in JK was one of most important factor that PDP candidate got more votes than me. These were some of the reasons I lost my seat.  

·         But up to parliament elections and even after that Congress and NC had an understanding between themselves?

Yes both parties had an understanding but let me tell you also that the understanding differs from one constituency to other and from one seat to seat to other. There were individual’s fights as well between the two parties. The understanding also depends on candidate to candidate and it also depends on party behavior.  

·         You are considered to be the old loyalist to Gandhi’s. Was that the criteria of you being the party chief ahead of other senior leaders?

Yes, it true I am an ardent loyalist to Nehru-Gandhi family but that was not the criterion for being elected as the State’s party chief ahead of other senior leaders. Restructuring the party in JK was going on for two years. Restructuring was started even before the parliament elections. Party High Command in Delhi got feedback on me from every ground worker upto top brass as they asked every one’s opinion before electing me for the top post in the state and everyone from State unanimously chose me and said he is organizationally well equipped and knows length and breadth of the State and is aptly capable of driving the ship for betterment of Congress in the JK state.  

·         Do you think that senior Congress leaders like Taj Mohiuddin, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed and Abdul Gani Vakil will cooperate with you in revamping Congress in JK?

They have to help me because I did not buy the presidentship from any shop I was elected by the High Command. And if they try to create hick-ups it will not be against me but against party High Command. They should follow party’s High Commands decisions in letter and spirit. And I am hopeful they will do so.  

·         Why is there lobbyism in Congress, examples like Azad, Soz and you all have your own support base?

In State Congress there is no lobbyism but difference of opinion prevails in State Congress. This is also one of the reasons that I was elected as president. Had it been lobbying, then in recent assembly polls it was for the first time Congress we contested on 86 seats out of 87 and lobbying comes to light once the mandates are being decided and had been any dissent that time among our cadre then it would have been lobbying. But we haven’t heard it anywhere from our party workers, so it is clearly there is no lobbyism but the difference of opinion. And difference of opinion is a healthy sign for the any party to flourish.  

·         Emergence of BJP in Jammu is a serious challenge for Congress. As new president of Congress for the state what step will you take to stop the emergence of BJP in JK?

Firstly, as far as BJP is concerned their emergence in Jammu and all over other states of India has come of a plank of lies. With each passing day now people will realise that they have voted wrong party to power because BJP will never be succeed in keeping their hallow promise which they made during election and recent Delhi election results is a better example. Secondly, let me say that I have been the president of the State Congress for less than a month but yet I have met number of our party cadre to forge people friendly policies. And one thing I want to clear here is that I am not against the emergence of BJP they have their own polices and agendas and we have our own. Let people of Jammu decide which party is better for them. And I know it well that the people of Jammu will soon realise that they have voted a wrong party to power. Our agenda is to give equal representation and development to all the three divisions of the State. This is the framework I have induced among my party cadre. I will give my best in serving the people of my State and will not upset my Party High Command.  

·         After the rout in 2014, how long will it take for the Congress to recoup in J&K?

There is no time frame for recouping Congress in J&K but let me assure you that I will do everything under my command to make it happen as soon as possible. One should understand that Congress is a national party and not a regional party. Our policies in the State depends lot on the policies at the national level. So as far the recouping is considered we have to wait till our national images gets well recouping may take a bit more time.  

·         Are you planning structural changes in party to reboot it?

Yes, I am. We have to start from the top and ultimately we will go to boot level. And let me also tell you that structural change is must for revamping the Congress in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The existing set up in Congress needs to be updated. We don’t have one block president but four to five self made block presidents are working under one block president and I am not going to compromise on such issues of the party.  

·         Are your predecessors responsible for all these issues?

Not my predecessors but I would use the word lobbyism here. It was lobbyism that is responsible for these minor issues. But I assure my party High Command and my cadres that this will not happen now under my command. There will be discipline under me and I will not influence my power to pick and chose people now it will be through proper deliberation and will take local leaders on board before choosing anyone for a party high post. It will be with their consent before deciding on anything.  

·         Recently, FM Arun Jaitley said in the Rajya Sabha that the Congress and its wrong policies are responsible for the alienation of J&K with India. What is your comment?

State Congress demanded two separate universities for the two different regions of the State because of the different topography so that people of Jammu and Kashmir should not feel alienated. While as Arun Jaitley in his budget said that they will give two AIIMS to the State but gave only one. Now tell me who is responsible Congress or BJP.  

·         But Jaitely said wrong policies are responsible for alienation?

This is what I mean. Alienation happens when people feel that they are discriminated. Alienation happens because of unequal development. Tell me now by whose policies people will feel alienated – theirs or ours.  

·         Why doesn't Congress have any ideological stand on Kashmir?

Congress has a very clear stand on the issue of Kashmir that is to resolve the issue through dialogue. If you see the history of dialogue between the India and Pakistan, it was during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s period that both the countries were much closer to resolve the Kashmir through Track II diplomacy. So, Congress has a fundamental stand on Kashmir that is to resolve the issue amicably and through dialogue.  

·         There are many tainted Congressmen in your party. Recent example is Abdul Gani Vakil. Your name has also come in the sex scandal. What do you have to say about it?

I don’t want to go in details of the sex scandal conspiracy. I only want to convey that the whole issue was scripted and it was a conspiracy against me. I went through rule of law and was cleared of all charges. You can go through all court records and see by yourself that there was no favoritism done to me by any official of the court. Second, had I been involved anywhere, I would not have won with an overwhelming majority in 2008 elections. I won more votes than 2002. I am son of a simple farmer and not a son of any influential politicians. Whatever I have achieved so far is because of my own efforts and that was one of the biggest reasons I was made a scapegoat in sex scandal. Going through rule of law and wining with majority speaks for itself of my innocence. And the people who conspired against me Allah will deal with them Himself. And one more important thing I would like to add here is that there are many dangerous things involved with politics but the allegations of a sex scandal is most devastating for a politician. It not only devastates one in political circles but his family life also gets affected in a big way.  

·         Rahul Gandhi has become the butt of jokes nationally. He is now the finest example of how a political scion should not be. Do you think he can take Congress forward? Or does the Congress need a new, vibrant leadership?

Opposition and others call Rahul Gandhi a Shehzada but I call him a Shaheedzada because it’s the Gandhi family that has suffered most in the Indian politics because this family wanted to uphold the secular fabric of the country. He is the only hope for Congress and it’s him that is the driving force behind each and every worker of the Congress. If you sit and have a discussion with him you will come to know how visionary he is. I accept Rahul may take time to come as a national leader but he is the only hope for us and I assure you that he is futurist leader of India.