The article titled “Where is the Omar Abdullah-led NC Government?” asks a legitimate question about governance, but then proceeds to answer it with political insinuation rather than facts. If Altaf Bukhari wants to scrutinise the government, he is perfectly entitled to do so. But scrutiny must begin with facts, not selective memory. 

Because before Altaf Bukhari lectures anyone on the politics of Delhi, perhaps he should be reminded of his own words. When Altaf Bukhari went to Delhi, it was political engagement. When Omar Abdullah goes to Delhi, it is supposedly a photo opportunity. That is not a difference of political philosophy. It is a difference of political convenience. Let us begin with Altaf Bukhari’s own words. 

On 24 June 2021, Bukhari attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s all-party meeting with J&K political leaders at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi. After the meeting, he said the Prime Minister had assured leaders that the Centre was committed to restoring statehood to Jammu & Kashmir. Just weeks later, in an interview published by The Indian Express on 1 August 2021, Bukhari defended his own meetings with the Prime Minister and his visits to Delhi. 

His words were: “Just because I went to Delhi and met the prime minister... why are they crying on that.” He explained that his Delhi outreach was intended to raise issues concerning the people of J&K, including the release of detainees and protection of jobs and land. So, Mr Bukhari, what changed? When you went to Delhi, it was advocacy. When you met the Prime Minister, it was engagement. When you raised J&K’s concerns with the Centre, it was politics. But when an elected Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir does the same, it becomes a “photo op”? The people of J&K deserve an explanation for that contradiction. Then came the most revealing statement On 18 July 2023, in a PTI video interview, Bukhari made his political approach towards New Delhi remarkably clear. He said: “We have to stand with Delhi. That is in the national interest. That is in the interest of my people.” He further said: “We are with New Delhi. We are neither with BJP nor with the opposition.” And then came the statement that perhaps deserves to be remembered most carefully: “Anybody who sits in New Delhi tomorrow, we are with him.” Bukhari also argued that any government in J&K would need the support of the Centre. These are not........

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