News Kashmir Exclusive
On 4th April, 2016 Mehbooba Mufti became the first woman Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir.PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti was sworn in as the 13th chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Within just few days mammoth challenges have started to galore for the Mehbooba Mufti Lead Government. From the controversy of National Institute of Technology which arose from tensions between locals and non-locals after India’s defeat to Westindies in cricket and then allegations of police highhandedness over non local students has now translated into Non-local students leaving the Valley and protesting loudly at Delhi against the State Government.
Now in latest dramatic turnaround of events, after allegations of molestation on soldier at North Kashmir town of Handwara fierce clashes erupted. Nayeem Bhatt, a promising cricketer, 70-year-old Raja Begum and Mohammad Iqbal, 21, were killed in the firing by security forces. The very next day another man, who was allegedly part of protesters in Kupwara, died after being hit on his head by a tear gas shell. Curfew and strict restrictions have followed as a reaction to curb the public anger and rage. On Thursday Mobile Internet services were not available in Srinagar, Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts of the Valley.
To refute the allegation of molestation, the army released a video of the girl’s statement yesterday. In it, she does not talk about molestation by any soldier but says a boy grabbed her bag, pulled her and abused her when she went to the washroom after school on Tuesday.
Pertinently, to control the damage Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has met the Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar, at Delhi and discussed with him the unfortunate firing incident at Handwara in which three civilians, including a woman, were killed.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister called for a time-bound enquiry into the incident so that those responsible for the deaths are handed exemplary punishment. This, she said, will act as a deterrent against such incidents in future.
Mehbooba Mufti said such incidents shake the confidence of the people and adversely impact the efforts of the State government in consolidating peace dividends.
Talking to News Kashmir, Faizaan Bhat, a young Columnist states -“Governing Kashmir is not a cakewalk. Doing opposition would have been easy for Mehbooba Mufti but now with assuming the reins of power, it is much difficult task ahead . Within few days a series of serious challenges have encircled Mehbooba Mufti Lead Government. The NIT rage and controversy is refusing to die down. The Handwara killings have added fuel to the fire .The killings of innocents is in no way going to make matters easy for Mehbooba Mufti. The harsh treatment meted out to Kashmiri students outside valley is another serious matter. All in all Mehbooba has assumed the charge of throne which is full of challenges.”
Undoubtedly, just within one week the government of first ever women Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti has witnessed a series of burning problems and tense matters. The road ahead is likely going to be full of challenges.
