Frustrated BJP keen to drive a wedge between NC and PDP in Kashmir?

Sporting a snowy white dress and a black vest with mandarin collar, former Peoples Democratic Party law maker Mohammad Yousuf Bhat in a video circulated online is heard telling a plain clothed security official to allow him to move out of his residence and that he does not need any vehicle or security.

The official standing near the sturdy iron gate of Bhat's official residence in Srinagar is disinclined to let him go.

"Sir, you are not allowed to go unless we have the orders," the official is heard telling the lawmaker in an unassuming manner.

In another similar video, senior PDP leader and former minister Nayeem Akhtar is also seen asking the cops guarding his residence to let him move out.

On Thursday, the PDP leaders were meeting for the first time since August 5, 2019, when PM Narendra Modi-led BJP government the Centre unceremoniously put paid to the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting was called by the party general secretary G. N Lone Hanjura at the party headquarters in Srinagar. However, the authorities did not allow the leaders to leave their homes.

"I was asked by a security person that I am under detention and they don't have orders from the higher ups to allow me to leave my place," Bhat told National Herald.

Since August 5, 2019, a dozen odd prominent PDP leaders including ministers and law makers have been under continuous house arrest while the party president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is yet to be released from detention.

Apart from the usual security men who are deployed at the residences of these leaders, some additional security officials for the purpose of "access control" remain present there.

"They are meant for controlling the visitors. Only relatives and close friends are allowed to see the leader," said a young PDP leader, who declined to be quoted.

"Ever since they were collared during a string of takedowns last year, they have never been allowed to move freely," he pointed out, adding, "Prohibiting PDP leaders from attending the party meeting exposes the government’s claims that they are free".

PDP youth president Waheed Ur Rehman Para believes that the continuous detention has been gnawing at their families and it is also "unconstitutional and vindictive".

"....While other political parties are allowed to continue political activities severe restrictions are placed on us," Para tweeted.

Last month, National Conference leaders were allowed to hold meetings after the government in response to a Habeas Corpus partition filed by the party’s president and vice president seeking the release of its leaders from "illegal detention" informed the High Court that no leader was under detention.

Political observers and commentators in the Valley believe that the Central dispensation is rather flippant about the restoration of the democratic process in Kashmir and is intransigent in its post-August 5 approach of subduing the mainstream political leaders.

"Again it laid bare the non-seriousness of government to restore the political activities in Kashmir. It is quite undemocratic to prevent a political party to convene meetings under flimsy reasons," said Shahnawaz Mantoo, a political observer.

According to Noor Ahmad Baba, an adjunct professor at Central University, Kashmir, the move to contain one political party from holding the meetings while allowing another could have a host of reasons and explanations.

"New Delhi may be trying to drive a wedge between PDP and NC. It did not want them to see together," said Baba. "Another possible reason could be that government wants to disempower and destroy the political forces here". Baba, however, said that it was, as of now, very difficult to say anything for sure.

The recent reiteration of the August 4, 2019 Gupkar declaration by all the six political parties is also seen to have caused some amount of insecurity to the BJP and the newly minted Apni Party. Many in the Valley believe that BJP has serious concerns that the signatories of Gupkar declaration may enter a pre-poll alliance to keep the BJP at bay.

Pertinently, last month BJP's general secretary Ram Madhav visited the  Valley and held meetings with his party men. The visit came close on the heels of the joint statement issued by the signatories of Gupkar declaration resolving to fight for the restoration of special position of J&K.