December 15, 2024e-Paper
The Hindu On Books Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features.
Data Point Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers
First Day First Show News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming.
Health Matters Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there
The View From India Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective.
Science For All The weekly newsletter from science writers takes the jargon out of science and puts the fun in!
Karnataka Today Your daily dose of news highlights from Karnataka
Today's Cache Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day.
December 15, 2024e-Paper
Updated – December 15, 2024 03:57 pm IST – New Delhi
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during an interview with PTI, in New Delhi, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI
Pooh-poohing the BJP's criticism of dynasty politics, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that political lineage is not a “lifelong ticket” to success and questioned why the ruling party doesn’t raise the issue with its allied parties which can also be accused of perpetuating dynasties.
Mr. Abdullah was responding to a question during an exclusive interview on Friday with PTI whether his family’s fourth generation will go into politics, and if that would expose him to fresh criticism of perpetuating dynastic politics the way the Congress party and other opposition parties have been.
Mr. Abdullah’s two lawyer sons have recently made forceful political commentaries, especially on the issue of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution that took away Kashmir’s special status, an emotive issue among Kashmiris. They also campaigned extensively with their father during the September Assembly elections.
"Whatever space they choose to carve out, they will have to make for themselves. Nobody is going to give them anything on a plate," said Mr. Abdullah, whose grandfather Sheikh Abdullah is considered the founding father of the post-independence State of Jammu and Kashmir.
His father Farooq Abdullah was also a Chief Minister for decades, and Omar Abdullah returned as Chief Minister for a second time in October.
"Belonging to a political family is not a lifelong ticket for success. And I don't need to point towards anybody else. I'll just talk about myself. I lost an election this year,” he said, referring to his failed bid in the Parliamentary elections earlier this year.
However, he contested in the Assembly elections in September and won handsomely. “I'm the same person, same family, same political party," he said.
He said the BJP's criticism of dynasty politics is simply political hypocrisy.
"The BJP only seems to oppose political dynasties when it's convenient. They have no issues with dynastic politics among their allies," he said.
"I don't need to point out the number of dynastic allies that the BJP has or has had in the past or will have in the future. So, I have always maintained that the BJP doesn't have a problem with political families. They have a problem with political families that are opposed to the BJP,” he said.
From the BJP’s vantage, he said, politicians are neither dynasts nor corrupt once "you are an ally of the BJP.” Asked if he will still give guidance or political advice to his sons, Zamir and Zahir, Abdullah, 54, said, “I have told them that as elected representatives … we are basically glorified daily wagers. We are here today. We will probably not be there tomorrow.”
He then gave his example, saying his party and he were elected in 2014. Then “we were dropped out of office in 2018 and we didn't come back until 2024. So, you need something (an income and profession) to fall back on," he said.
Drawing parallels with other fields like acting and sports, he highlighted that initial advantages of family connections quickly fade.
"Some get recognised initially, but if you can't perform, no one will carry you," he said.
Published – December 15, 2024 03:40 pm IST
Jammu and Kashmir / Jammu
Copyright© 2024, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.
BACK TO TOP
Terms & conditions | Institutional Subscriber
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.
