Family Business

With chief minister Farooq Abdullah alleging that his ageing mother Begum Akbar Jehan had gone overboard in her criticism of his government, a fresh feud seems to have erupted in Kashmir's 'ruling family'. Or, has it? Indications are that nothing serious will emerge out of the Begum's threat to plunge into politics. But there's speculation that her outburst is a calculated move to draft Farooq's son Omar into state politics and also give the chief minister a reason to get rid of some ministers from his jumbo cabinet.

For the record though, Farooq seemed upset with his mother's interview to a newspaper that quoted her as saying that several ministers in her son's cabinet and bureaucrats had sold their honour and were neck-deep in corruption. She also spoke of complaints against the state government. "This is giving a bad name to my son's government. I want this to be checked at once," she said.

In the same breath, however, she expressed faith in her grandson Omar. "He (Farooq) didn't have to do anything to be there on the top. I have a lot of hope in my grandson Omar, whom I'm myself grooming in politics. I'm sure he'll prove himself and be the real ideological successor of Sher-i-Kashmir. I have told him to be very close to people and be accessible to everybody and I am confident he'll never compromise on the basic spirit of National Conference."

Though it has stirred a controversy of sorts, the wordy duel between mother and son is also being seen as a clever exercise aimed at getting rid of some ministers against whom allegations of corruption have been levelled. According to sources in the party, Begum Akbar Jehan's concern may be used by her chief minister son to significantly reduce the size of his council of ministers and simultaneously induct son Omar as a minister in preparation for the ultimate takeover. Interestingly, the demand for Omar's induction in the state cabinet has already been voiced by some National Conference leaders, including ministers.

Farooq's plans for his son is expected to become clear after he returns from his foreign tour. By then, members of the Abdullah family may also have discussed the pros and cons of Begum Akbar Jehan's reported statement and her son's reaction. Some political observers are inclined to see in the former's remarks a bid by the National Conference to project itself as a party concerned about the people of Kashmir just before the Lok Sabha elections.

Observers here say the time chosen by the Begum, who in her nineties has been almost confined to the four walls of her home, is significant. It comes in the wake of a campaign by a section in the National Conference to press for Omar's induction into the cabinet. The campaign began when Farooq was abroad. One theory is that her son's absence from the state emboldened Begum Akbar Jehan to launch her attack against corrupt ministers in Farooq's cabinet.

But what doesn't gel is the fact that the Begum finds a saviour in her grandson, who cannot be deemed to have gained the required experience and expertise in the 13 months he spent in the Lok Sabha. True, Farooq himself ascended the ladder young, courtesy his late father. But then he was substantially older than what his son now is, still in his twenties. Begum Abdullah may well argue that if her son did not capitalise on his early entry into politics, it need not necessarily be the same in the case of her grandson.

But in that event also, it amounts to making a systematic effort in transferring power from father to son, as it happened when Sheikh Abdullah himself felt it necessary to nominate his successor. If the Sheikh did it somewhat late in his life, the Abdullah family may have convinced itself that the issue of succession should this time be settled early to gain, among other things, some advantage during Lok Sabha polls. The Begum and her advisors may see dividends coming their way by criticising Farooq who, along with his government, stands discredited before the people. To them, Omar may be the choice for many reasons, including that of his being from within the Abdullah family.