What History Tells Us, And Why Unravelling Of Gupkar Alliance Is Not Surprising
On 2 July 1984, 12 National Conference members of the J&K Legislative Assembly, allegedly at the behest of the then Governor Jagmohan, threw their weight behind GM Shah. This tactical manoeuvre reduced the government of his brother-in-law and adversary, Dr Farooq Abdullah, an eyesore for New Delhi at that time, into a minority, paving way for his dismissal.
The “coup” by New Delhi, Cambridge scholar and historian Alastair Lamb had noted, “marked the end of Article 370”. The coup was important because New Delhi didn’t want to cede an inch of its ‘territory’ to the autonomy-seeking Dr Abdullah. It had become important to remove Dr Abdullah from power in order to show him “his place”.
In just three months, the much publicised show of unity put up by Dr Abdullah, his son Omar, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti, CPI(M) General Secretary MY Tarigami and PC Chief Sajad Lone — for the “restoration of…