Flashback (Dec.25, 2005)

 

 

FLASHBACK 2005
A historic year
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

JAMMU: Restoration of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road, opening of the LoC at five places 57 years after Partition, and return of the Congress to power after 30 years in the state, are among the events that made the year historic in Jammu and Kashmir.

It was a historic occasion when the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, flagged off the bus to Muzaffarabad PoK in April. The bus service has provided an opportunity to divided families to meet again.

The bus service, however, had to be suspended in October because of the devastation caused by the earthquake. The road link was recently restored when Army engineers rebuilt the Aman Setu connecting both sides of Kashmir.

The earthquake made India and Pakistan soften their stand on the Kashmir issue and open the LoC at five places to enable the exchange fo relief material for victims. Rotational opening of these points has now become an ongoing process as victims on both sides are being allowed to cross-over to meet their relatives.

The year brought cheers for the Congress that returned to power in Jammu and Kashmir after 30 years. This was one of the most significant political events of the year that also witnessed the breaking of ice between the Prime Minister and the APHC.

Amid uncertainty over the change of guard in the state, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, resigned from the Union Cabinet and became Chief Minister of the Congress-led coalition on November 2. Throughout the year speculations were rife whether PDP leader Mufti Sayeed would step down to pave the way for a smooth transfer of power on the completion of his three-year term as was provided in an agreement between the two parties.

Initially, there were reports of Mr Azad being reluctant to shift here but he was asked by the Congress leadership to take over the reins of the state.

However, the changeover left some ministers high and dry as they could not get a berth. The Panthers Party was on the verge of a split on the issue of its chairman, Mr Bhim Singh, deciding to support the Azad government from outside. But damage control is being undertaken.

It was a set-back for the APHC that suffered a split with Syed Ali Shah Geelani parting ways. The Hurriyat leadership held a successful round of talks with the Prime Minister.

The Hurriyat leaders were given the green light to visit Pakistan and other countries without any precondition by the Centre.

The BJP saw a split with the breakaway group reviving the Praja Parishad.

The National Conference also did not remain immune to dissidence as its two senior MLAs, Moulvi Iftikhar Ansari and Mr Dillawar Mir, left the party to join the PDP.

The PDP also faced dissidence with one of its senior leaders, Mr Ghulam Hassan Mir, having differences with party chief Mehbooba Mufti.

Because of security threat, the state government could not filfil its commitment of shifting back the first batch of Kashmiri Pandis to Kashmir where flats have been built for them.