One of the founding members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and sitting Member of Parliament from Srinagar Parliamentary constituency, Tariq Hameed Karra, often labelled as ‘giant killer’ ever since he defeated National Conference patriarch Dr Farooq Abdullah in the 2014 lok Sabha polls, dealt a body blow to Mehbooba Mufti-led alliance Govt in the State on Thursday by announcing his resignation from the primary membership of the party and Parliament.
Feeling suffocated and outraged over the manner in which the PDP-BJP alliance Govt was handling the ground situation in the aftermath of killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, the former State Finance Minister, also considered Mufti Mohd Sayeed’s blue eyed boy, told the media in Srinagar, “I am resigning from Parliament and the primary membership of the PDP against the brutal policies of BJP at Centre and State Governments complete sell-out and surrender before them.”
Karra had earlier raised banner of revolt against the decision of top brass of the party to form an alliance Govt with the BJP in the State. Soon he had to eat a humble pie as he himself accompanied party’s senior MP Muzaffar Hussain Baig along with Mehbooba Mufti to stake claim for the formation of PDP-led alliance Govt in the State.
Addressing a Press conference in Srinagar, Karra said, “locking sufi shrines and mosques on Eid was a defining moment for me to take the final call.” Appealing to all other MPs, MlAs and MlCs to resign, he said, “I leave it to their conscience to decide whether they would like to side with helpless people or let the bloodshed be perpetuated by the RSS-backed BJP and facilitated by the PDP”.
Reading out a lengthy statement, Karra said, “For the last more than a year, people are asking him questions to which he has no answer. They are asking about the human rights, self-rule, return of power projects, resuming talks between India and Pakistan, and the fate of political slogans. What happened to the party’s slogan of Grenade se na goli se, baat banaygi boli seIJ What happened to the philosophy of battle of ideas, which has turned into battle against ideas todayIJ”
He said his party was protesting the closure of mosques on Fridays and now it is doing the same and in fact going beyond. He said various mosques and shrines were literally locked by the Government to prevent people from praying on Eid. He said his party was against the pellets but when it assume power it started using more lethal ammunition on people. “My head would go down in shame on all these questions as I have no explanation to offer to these just queries.”
Asked why he proposed Mehbooba’s name as party leader that eventually led her to become the CM, Karra said he had no choices, “I only preferred a lesser evil.”
Another senior Parliamentarian and former Dy CM Muzaffar Husaain Baig had also suggested Mehbooba to resign within next six months if she failed to implement the ‘Agenda of Alliance’ agreed upon by the PDP-BJP.
Reacting to Karra’s resignation, PDP general secretary Nizamuddin Bhat said, “It is unfortunate that he has resigned. He should have discussed the crisis with the party.”
The National Conference on Thursday said the resignation of Karra reflected the gravity of situation in Kashmir and scale of “disaffection” for PDP’s “complete sell-out”.
“Tariq Karra’s resignation reflected the gravity of the situation in Kashmir and also the enormity and scale of disaffection — both against PDP and within PDP — for its complete sell-out,” said NC spokesperson Junaid Mattu in a statement.
“The NC has not asked for the dismissal of this State Government, nor have we asked Mehbooba Mufti to resign. These calls are coming from the topmost leaders in her own party and it is for her own conscience to decide what she would like to do. What lessons she draws from Karra’s resignation is a matter of her own conscience and morality,” said Mattu.
In Jammu, historian Prof Hari Om told The Pioneer, Karra’s resignation, which was expected, has left the BJP with no other option but to either implement the divisive and pro-Pakistan agenda agreed upon in PDP-BJP agenda of alliance or come out of the Government.