Kashmir politics not fiefdom of any party, Shah Ruwa has right to enter politics: Waheed Para

Questions NC’s political history, criticises reaction to reports of Shah Ruwa’s possible political entry

Srinagar, Nov 15  : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed ur Rehman Para on Sunday defended Shah Ruwa’s right to enter politics, saying no political party could claim ownership over Kashmir’s political future or prevent a young woman from choosing her own political path.

Reacting to reports about Shah Ruwa’s possible entry into politics, Para questioned the criticism surrounding the development and accused the National Conference (NC) of adopting contradictory political positions over the years.

In a post on X, as per news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS), Para said Kashmir’s political space belonged to everyone and should not be treated as the exclusive domain of any particular party.

“In Kashmir the National Conference advocated two opposite ends of the political spectrum — pro-Pakistan plebiscite to pro-India secession purely out of political expedience,” Para said.

He further alleged that the NC leadership had shifted its political positions according to circumstances, referring to episodes from the party’s political history.

“Their top leadership once garlanded Jinnah with a string of shoes only to wave Pakistani salt during elections to trick gullible voters,” he claimed.

Para said it was contradictory for a party that spoke about mainstream politics and reconciliation to react negatively to reports of a young Kashmiri woman considering a political career.

“Ostensibly the NC also speaks of mainstream and reconciliation both in the same breath. But when news of a young Kashmiri woman getting into politics surfaces all hell breaks loose,” he said.

Referring to Shah Ruwa’s family background, Para said she had inherited a political legacy marked by personal tragedies and difficult experiences.

He said she had witnessed her grandfather’s political journey from electoral politics to separatism and had also suffered the loss of her father while he was in jail.

“Shah Ruwa hasn’t just inherited a rich political legacy but suffered immense tragic personal losses,” Para said.

He also referred to the difficulties she had faced following these losses, alleging that she had been subjected to unfair treatment and deprived of the opportunity to mourn her family members.

Questioning the reaction to her possible political entry, Para said, “If this young woman ever decides to take a plunge into Kashmir’s turbulent political waters why must it evoke such petty insecurity and appalling ad hominem remarks?”

He maintained that Shah Ruwa, like any other citizen, had the right to make her own political choices without facing personal attacks.

“Kashmir’s politics isn’t the fiefdom of any single party. And who erroneously assume so do it only at their own peril,” Para said. (KNS)