Political churning in the People's Democratic Party (PDP) claimed its first casualty after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti sacked her finance minister Dr Haseeb A Drabu for going against the party line by claiming that Kashmir is not political but a social issue.
The decision to fire Drabu, who played a key role in stitching alliance with BJP and co-authoring the Agenda of Alliance, was made a day after PDP vice-president Sartaj Madni publicly reprimanded and asked him to retract the controversial statement.
Speaking at an event in New Delhi on Saturday, Drabu said Kashmir should not be seen as a conflict state or a political problem, but as a society with social issues. Ambassadors of different countries were invited for the event.
A day later, on Sunday, Drabu was served notice by J&K revenue minister and chairman of PDP disciplinary committee Abdul Rehman Veeri, asking him to explain his statement.
''As you are aware it contradicts this very belief and core agenda of party which you reportedly said at the highest level your statement has the potential of creating a serious dent in the image and credibility of the party. Therefore, you are advised to explain as to why statement detrimental to party interests was made," reads a notice by Veeri to Drabu.
However, things moved in a rapid pace from Monday afternoon, with Mehbooba writing to Governor NN Vohra seeking his assent to remove Drabu from the council of ministers.
"Yes, he has been removed from the cabinet. Party was not satisfied (by his explanation) and therefore the decision to remove him was taken. Governor has approved the decision", Rafi Ahmad Mir, chief spokesman of PDP told DNA.
Drabu, the Journalist turned banker turned economist turned Finance Minister has been in the thick of things since BJP-PDP government was formed in the restive state on March 1, 2015.
From stitching one of the most difficult alliances to framing Agenda of Alliance, Dr Drabu has been the crisis manager and Man of the Moment in the Mehbooba Mufti government in the last three years. However, given her close proximity with BJP leaders, some of the PDP leaders were not happy with him.
Drabu's statement proved the last nail in the coffin and he was finally sacked and not asked to resign. Since morning the government spin doctors took to social media shooting the messenger saying he was misquoted. However after the video of his speech was telecast, the spin doctors withdrew into a shell.
"I am not speaking today", said Drabu when asked for his reaction.
Drabu's statement had given a handle for main opposition National Conference which called it a shocking and shameful U-turn". "If J&K is not a political issue then what is the basis of the suffering and conflict in the State? Is this a formal abandonment of the party's Self Rule document?" asked Ali Mohommad Sagar, General Secretary of National Conference.
