The People’s Democratic Party removed the state finance minister Haseeb Drabu from his post. The decision was taken by the party under chief minister Mehbooba Mufti over his controversial statement declaring that Kashmir wasn’t a political issue.
He is the first senior leader removed from the cabinet and the request by Mufti was accepted by the governor N.N. Vohra. The incident took place during a conference in Delhi on 10th March. His exact words were, “Don’t see Jammu and Kashmir as a conflict state and political issue, it is a society which has social issues right now. We are trying to find our own space and we are going through a process which many other countries are also going through.”
The event was organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Drabu was picked by the former CM for the post and is one of the senior leaders of the party. Drabu was also a key figure during the PDP and BJP negotiations before the formation of the state government. Drabu said the news of his sacking came as a surprise to him because he was made aware of it via social media.
He also complained that he didn’t get the opportunity to explain his stand and position. But he did thank the leaders of the party to have allowed him to do his bit. Now Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari will be given the additional responsibility of the post of the finance minister. It’s not really the intention but the meaning of that statement especially at a politically turbulent time in Kashmir that inspired such a sharp reaction. But the onus is on politicians who space public opinion to some extent, words once said can’t be taken back. But Drabu did promise that he’d continue working for his constituency Rajpora in the Pulwama district.