Famous cinematographer and son of former State Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Tasadduq Hussain Mufti Thursday joined Council of Ministers headed by his elder sister Mehbooba Mufti in Jammu & Kashmir. He was assigned charge of Tourism portfolio.
Another PDP legislator Javaid Mustafa Mir, dropped from the State Cabinet last year, staged a come back in the Council of Ministers. Mir, who had earlier served as Revenue Minister in the Mufti Mohd Sayeed Cabinet was given charge of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction and Floriculture Department.
Both the PDP legislators were administered oath of office by Governor NN Vohra in the sprawling lawns of Raj Bhawan in Jammu. Bespectacled Tassaduq Hussain Mufti, sporting a French beard, arrived at the venue along with close family members including elder sister Rubiya Sayeed.
Tassaduq, often labeled as reluctant politician, initially fumbled with the words while taking the oath of office.
Spokesman of the National Conference grabbed the opportunity to tease top brass of the PDP.
Taking dig at the Chief Minister for bringing her brother in the council of ministers Junaid Azim Mattu tweeted, “I Tassaduq Hussain Mufti, swear in the name of DOG”. “Befitting start! God help the departments his sister will gift to him. God help J&K!”
After the oath ceremony Tassaduq shied away from speaking in front of the camera.
He, however, made a crisp comment when repeatedly asked about his roadmap and fulfilling dreams of his father Mufti Mohd Sayeed. Tassaduq told reporters,” I will try to fulfill dreams of my father”.He,however sought some time for himself to settle down in the job. “let me work for some time then only i can speak to you about my work and how i am going to contribute for the promotion of Tourism in the state”.Commenting on the security situation in the state Tassaduq claimed situation is limping back to normalcy in Kashmir valley.
Tassaduq Mufti had earlier joined the party on the occasion of first death anniversary of his father. But he could not contest lok Sabha polls in the wake of continued cycle of violence early this year.last week he was formally nominated to the upper house of the state legislature by Governor NN Vohra paving way for his induction in the state cabinet.His induction in the party is seen as a desperate measure by the party Chief Mehbooba Mufti to further consolidate her grip over the party machinery in the wake of reports of growing dissent within the ranks. Two senior PDP ministers Basharat Bukhari and Imran Raza Ansari, who had submitted their resignations during previous shakeup in the council of ministers skipped the oath ceremony. Senior most PDP leader and sitting MP Muzaffar Hussain Baig was also not present during the oath taking ceremony. None of the opposition leaders from National Conference and Congress, independent MlA Engineer Rashid, CPI (M) MlA MY Tarigami, Hakim Yaseen also stayed away during the oath ceremony.