Srinagar, Sep 12 (KB): In a dramatic turn of events likely to create an earthquake in local politics relating to the forthcoming elections, a jolt has been administered to the political career of Sharjan Barkati, reputed for his eloquence as a speaker and being a grass-root activist.
His daughter, as per news agency—Kashmir Bulletin (KB), in an unprecedented outburst of frustration, tore into pieces her father’s nomination papers in front of several eyewitnesses because her father received no response from political leader Engineer Rashid.
Sharjan Barkati was to contest the election from Langate-a constituency traditionally dominated by strong local and regional political forces.
However, the public intervention by his daughter, which unfolded on Monday afternoon, has given a sudden twist to his plans.
Speaking to the press shortly after the incident, the daughter of Barkati voiced deep frustration felt by the family, which treats this as abandonment by Er. Rashid, who is the founder of the Awami Ittehad Party and former MLA from Langate.
“When Er. Rashid was in jail, people, including my father, stood by him. Now, our family is suffering, and we feel abandoned,” she said.
Her words were tinged with disappointment, almost a sense of betrayal. The family had expected solidarity from Rashid in return, at least after all those efforts to stand by him through his days of detention.
“Our family is the victim now. We deserve the same support we offered when it was needed,” she continued, holding back visible frustration.
This again puts the spotlight on Barkati, who as a figurehead of the 2016 protests in Kashmir, had risen to fame for his fistfull of firebrand speeches and vociferous rebellion against the government.
The release of Barkati after continuous time spent in jail had revived conversations of his political future. His decision to plunge into the electoral fray was viewed as a natural progression, one which resonated with many of its supporters in Langate and beyond.
However, his nomination papers getting torn up by his daughter hint that there are more serious problems in the Barkati camp. It also hints at the dissatisfaction that is growing within grassroots workers and families of former political activists who feel let down by their very leaders whom once supported them.
A charismatic and controversial figure in Kashmir politics, Rashid has over the years emerged as a voice of the downtrodden and is a bitter critic of the mainstream political parties and security establishment.
The detention of Rashid in August 2019 had been in sharp focus, with many rallying behind him along with the family of Barkati. It would therefore appear that the words of the daughter of Barkati carry an essence of entitlement therein-a belief that since they supported Rashid in their time of need, they should be repaid in kind.
Repeated attempts at contacting Er. Rashid and his party, the Awami Ittehad Party, have not elicited an official word as of now regarding the incident or the claims brought forth by the family of Barkati.
So far, Rashid has not spoken about this unfolding situation, though he has been actively campaigning in different parts of North Kashmir. This furthered the perception that he may have distanced himself from Barkati’s family and escalated tensions between them.
Since Langate in Kupwara district has been a politically important constituency for many years, the leading player, Er. Rashid, does not have any weak point within this region. Entering into the political foray of Er. Rashid being considered a threat to his dominance in Langate some analysts believed that Barkati would divide the votes of Rashid.
But the latest development may change the course of his election campaign, as he is now being twitted upon whether he would contest the election at all.
According to local political analysts, this entire public frustration by the Barkati family against Rashid could herald more significant implications related to the upcoming elections. Tearing up the nomination papers is symbolic-it shows a greater sentiment of discontent that some political families have towards leaders they once considered allies. In a region where personal relations and political alliances are so inter-woven, incidents like these can change loyalties and dynamics of electoral contests.
For Barkati’s family, this is more than a political drama; it is a very personal one. The disappointment uttered by his daughter underlines a sense of betrayal, not only to the family but also to those supporters of Rashid who might feel their loyalty has not been returned. The tearing of the nomination papers, which was captured by local media, was symbolic-an act of defiance and frustration.
The actions of Barkati’s daughter seem to resonate with many in their view of her move both as a protest and a plea for some sense of solidarity. “My father stood by him during his darkest hours. Is this how we are repaid?” she asked during her interaction with the media. Her words have triggered a larger conversation about the nature of political alliances in Kashmir-loyalty, usually put to test in the face of adversity.
As electioneering reaches a fever pitch in Langate, it has to be seen now how this sudden turn of events would influence Sharjan Barkati’s political ambition. It is yet to be heard from the cleric as to what he does in the face of his daughter’s action-whether he will contest or not-but the incident has already set the tone for a charged and emotionally driven election season in the region.
Whether this public show of exasperation will strike a chord with the voters, or whether Barkati can mend fences with Er. Rashid’s camp, remains to be seen. One thing, however, stands clear—the political scenario got a shake in Langate, and this incident might be a talking point when the candidates come in to the election battleground.
As the daughter of Barkati told the media, her last words sounded almost like a mix between disappointment and hope: “We are still waiting for an answer.”— (KB)
