1. Even as I issue this statement, I have no formal or even personal
communication either from the government or from the party about my
being dropped from the Cabinet on 12 th of March. I stand informed by the
media first as a speculation then as a fact.
2. I deem it necessary to set the record straight.
On the PHDCCI Speech:
3. The speech I delivered on the 9 th of March 2018 focussed on a thought
that has been on my mind: the role of civil society in resolving the issue
of Kashmir.
4. Speaking to a select gathering of Ambassadors and industrialists, who
could be possible investors in peace in J&K, I tried to make the point that
Kashmir was not only a political issue to be resolved by the nation state
of India and the successive governments at the centre and the state, but
that there is a social issue that needs to be resolved at the level of the civil
society.
5. It was made in the larger context of how our society has been ravaged and
has impaired real-life situations and sensibilities especially of the youth.
As an example, relevant to the Ambassadors present, I quoted the case of
the travel advisories of various countries, in this context, which may be
politically induced but on ground are effectively acting as a social boycott
of Kashmiris. This, I said, in turn engenders a political thinking that is
isolationist. The need as such is for civil society institutions to get
involved and make interventions in their areas of influence to resolve the
social issues pervading our society.
6. There have been innuendoes that I said this or was made to say this with
an ulterior motive. The fact is that it is a long-held belief and I have
repeatedly said it that the engagement with Kashmir should be at various
levels. When I was the Chairman of the J&K Bank, I used to lament the
fact that while as around 40% of shareholding of the bank was with
Foreign Institutional Investors, not a single Indian Institution was
invested with the bank.
7. For the record, on 14 th June 2014, I delivered a keynote address in
Srinagar along the same lines. An abridged version was published on 18 th
June, 2014 in Greater Kashmir. Only a few days back, I spoke at the
Indian Econometric Conference and asked the researchers to show me a
single research they would have done in J&K. I called it the “Apathy of
the Academia”. The same is true for engagement at the levels of
individuals, intelligentsia and trade & commerce. Those who heard my
speech or care to read it dispassionately will know that when I was
talking about our aspirations and the efforts at self-discovery, I was in
fact nuancing the very stand of the People’s Democratic Party before a
very select audience
8. To the best of my understanding and knowledge, this in no way goes
against the articulated and stated political position of PDP. Nor does it
dent its image. It is, in fact, very much a part of the PDP’s political
philosophy and agenda of reconciliation.
9. As for my understanding of the political ideology of PDP, it is based on
my drafting of various election manifestoes, the aspirational agenda, and
the all-important Self Rule document, which Mufti Sahib involved me in.
Indeed, the terms and conditions based on which the current PDP-BJP
alliance was formed, the Agenda of alliance, was drafted under his
guidance.
On the Party statements and action:
10. The sequence of events that unfolded is as follows: I delivered the
speech at the PHDCCI event on 9 th of March in the evening.
11. On the 11 th of March 2018 on my return from Delhi, I saw a press
statement of the Vice President, Mr Sartaj Madni, asserting that
resolution of the political problem of J&K is the core agenda of the PDP
and asking me to retract the statement I had reportedly made in Delhi.
12. By evening a letter from Mr. A R Veeri, Chairman of the
Disciplinary Committee was delivered at my residence. It asked me to
explain my statement which ‘has caused a serious dent to the image of the
party.’ I called Veeri Sb but he was probably unable to take my call. He
had later called back as I saw a missed call from his number.
13. Next day morning I spoke to Veeri Sahib and he suggested that I
should talk to the Party President and the Chief Minister. I called the CM
residence in New Delhi and was told that CM was busy and would call
me back in 10 minutes. That call never came. By early afternoon I called
up the CM residence and sought an appointment. Even as I was waiting
for it, it was reported on the website of the Daily Greater Kashmir that the
CM had decided to drop me from the council of ministers and had written
to the Governor to this effect. I finally got a call to meet the CM at 7.15
pm.
14. The decision to drop me did come as a surprise but what was
shocking was the manner and method of communicating it. While I
understand and accept the decision of the Party, to take to media before
talking to me, was painful. I was not accorded the opportunity to explain
the context and the content of my speech.
15. Notwithstanding this, I am very grateful to Mufti Sahib and
Mehbooba ji to have been given the opportunity to contribute in whatever
small way I could in accomplishing the Party Patron’s vision of
addressing the distressing situation in and around Jammu and Kashmir
which has jeopardized the security, peace and prosperity of the people of
the state and imperilled stability in the subcontinent.
16. My association with PDP dates to those years when I wasn’t even
formally into politics. The rapport I enjoyed with its late founder and
patron is something that I would cherish all my life. The unflinching
confidence that he always reposed in me and the relationship of trust that
we shared is my source of strength to endure this situation.
17. Not for nothing did he entrust me with the task of negotiating with
the BJP and make me the pointsman for the alliance which was later
continued by Mehbooba ji. Every single meeting, discussion and
negotiations were done with the knowledge and consent of the Patron and
the President.
18. If there is one thing that I feel very proud of in my political stint in
Kashmir till now, it is that I was Mufti Sahib’s Finance Minister. My
association with Mufti Sahab dates back to 2003 when he appointed me
as an Economic Adviser to the government headed by him. It was Mufti
Sahab who inspired me and indeed persuaded me to join the politics as
according to him politics provides the best instrument to serve the people
and bring change in their lives.
19. When I was asked by the Party President to contest 2014 Assembly
elections from Rajpora constituency, it was an honour and I was
overwhelmed by the support extended by the people of the area to PDP’s
inclusive and progressive policies resulting in my maiden election as an
MLA from the area. I assure the people of the area that I will continue to
work for them. I am very grateful to them for their love and affection.
20. I must thank Mehbooba ji for reposing trust in me which helped
this Government to set off so many pioneering initiatives in the specific
area of public expenditure management and generally in the fronts of
economic development. I bear no ill will against anyone. That’s simply
not my way of being.
21. I am committed to work for the welfare of the people of the state in
whatever capacity I am in now. At a personal level, for me and my
family, it is Deja vu! And since God has been kind to me there is no
reason for me not to trust in his benevolence this time round. I stand by
my choices, political or otherwise. And firmly believe that he knows best!