The long history of ‘short’ floor tests in Kashmir
Mohammad Sayeed Malik
THE shadow of sinful origin of the 57 year old state legislature looms over the
legitimacy of the floor test on Monday, ostensibly, to determine the fate of the
beleaguered Azad government. Going by that much abused term, ‘ground reality’,
the abridged version of the coalition government has no legs to stand upon. It
has lost majority and can survive only on fake strength, to legitimise which the
floor test will be preceded by a pre-programmed floor ‘management’.
To be fair, this type of drama is not going to be staged for the first time; or
the last time, for sure. The foul stink of the ‘original sin’ committed in 1951
when the very first assembly was unabashedly rigged by our very first ‘popular’
government refuses to go away from the hallowed chambers of succeeding
assemblies. No wonder, the very first floor test staged in 1953 sought to
legitimise the immoral overthrow of the founding father of the august house,
Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, and hail his undemocratically crowned successor,
Bakhshi Ghulam Mohammad. QED! Nobody’s conscience was pricked in setting the
dubious precedent soon to be followed in letter and spirit. Down the line, in
the mid- 60s, the beneficiary of the first floor test, Bakhshi, became its next
victim. He had clandestinely organised the support of the majority of MLAs
behind himself to overthrow GM Sadiq and given notice of no-confidence motion on
the floor. That trial of strength was, however, never to take place. Bakhshi,
the unadulterated ‘Indian’ was detained under the notorious Defence of India
Rules (DIR), forefather of the draconian POTA. A mere notice of floor test was
treated as an offence bordering treason and warranting the detention of a proven
‘nationalist’. Just imagine the dangerous potential of floor test, when viewed
from distant Delhi.
Only a few years later, an in-house revolt within the state Congress against GM
Sadiq created a stir and led to abrupt termination of the budget session in
1968. A majority of the ruling Congress MLAs (probably 32) trooped all the way
to Delhi demanding floor test. Coincidentally, that revolt was led by late Syed
Mir Qasim whose camp included Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and late Abdul Ghani Lone.
The rebels were administered a dose of earthly wisdom by their masters in Delhi
and they gave in tamely, surrendering their earlier ‘democratic right’ to ask
for trial of strength on the floor of the assembly.
The present scenario can broadly be compared with the 1977 event in which the
Congress party withdrew its support from the Sheikh Abdullah-led coalition
government and demanded urgent floor test. However, for the first time the
Congress MLAs found themselves among the have-nots of politics, because the
Janata Party had overthrown Indira Gandhi at the centre. Governor LK Jha was
‘advised’ by the Morarji Desai-led union government to accept Sheikh’s
recommendation for immediate dissolution of the assembly, rather than letting
the Congressmen have their way. The floor test was aborted.
The latest episode in the ‘soap serial’ dates back to July, 1984. Some of the
dramatis personae of the present episode were participants in that too. Ghulam
Mohammad Shah had just overthrown Farooq Abdullah and governor Jagmohan had
asked Shah to prove his majority on the floor. The floor test turned physical to
settle the issue beyond any doubt. Speaker (late) Wali Mohammad Itoo was bodily
thrown out to let Mangat Ram Sharma occupy the ‘honourable’ seat.
‘Erring’ MLAs were summarily disqualified to prepare a ‘level playing field’ for
Shah who, needless to say, returned with flying colours. Two years later the
very same Shah had to taste the reverse side of the Congress courtesy. He was
divested of the Congress support; no floor test was called as Jagmohan assumed
the command directly on orders from Delhi.
The script of the events staged might has been changing but not the script
writer’s address. So is the case with the ordained ‘allegiance’ of the compliant
local actors. How can the outcome be different from what the master has scripted
it to be? The July 7 floor test can at best be another addition
to the string of scandalous episodes. Kee faraq painda!