BJP’s Kupwara connections get stronger as better half of Hurriyat (M)’s Ex top functionary gets top slot

Srinagar: With the appointment of better half of a former top functionary of Hurriyat Conference (M) Vasaundhara Pathak Masoodi as Chairperson of the Jammu & Kashmir State Commission for Protection of Women and Child Rights by Jammu & Kashmir government directly commanded and controlled by the incumbent BJP led NDA government at the centre, the saffron party’s political connections with frontier Kupwara district of North Kashmir established by Sajad Lone the Chairman of Peoples Conference before the commencement of 2014 assembly elections are getting stronger ahead of upcoming assembly elections overdue now in Jammu & Kashmir state.
Though the officials of Jammu & Kashmir Government claim that Vasundhara Pathak Masoodi apart from being a practising lawyer in the Supreme Court of India, High Courts of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir and various other Courts and Tribunals is also a women and child rights activist, committed to the cause of women and children but the connections of the top appointee and as well as his father with the people known for their separatist political background cannot be overlooked.
While the fact remains that Vasundhara Pathak Masoodi is not married to an ordinary citizen of frontier district Kupwara but to a man known by the name Altaf Masoodi famous for having served as top aide of a top leader of Hurriyat Conference (M) Prof Ab Ghani Bhat as the Chairman of the top separatist amalgam (Hurriyat Conference) before it split into two groups now called Hurriyat Conference (G) and Hurriyat Conference (M), point of attention for eye watchers in Kashmir is the fact that Vasundhara Pathak Masoodi is the daughter of RC Pathak a top Supreme Court lawyer famous for serving as a counsel of many top separatists leaders in key cases during early days of separatist uprising in the state.
When Vajpayee led NDA government was in power at the centre, the Hurriyat Conferenc(M) immediately after the split of united Hurriyat Conference held talks with the then Home Minister L K Advani . In recent days response of the Governor Satya Pal Malik to the remark of the Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq over increasing tendency of drug addiction generated an impression of an increasing political activity for resumption of talks between the Central Government and Hurriyat Conference (M). The appointment of Vasundhara Pathak Masoodi could be part of the central government’s plan to reach out to separatists as Altaf Masoodi could become a link between the central government and the Hurriyat Conference (M) leaders keeping in view his close association with Prof Ab Ghani Bhat 0as Chairman Hurriyat Conference before its split. Interestingly Prof Ab Ghani Bhat was in the thick of controversy during 2016 public uprising for saying “ lame people are riding blind horses” and people reserve the right to question Prof Bhat that does he still believe that “ lame people are riding blind horses”.
It may recalled here that the State Administrative Council (SAC) headed by Governor, Satya Pal Malik on Tuesday this week accorded sanction to the appointment of Vasundhara Pathak Masoodi as Chairperson of the Jammu & Kashmir State Commission for Protection of Women and Child Rights. Section (4) of the Jammu & Kashmir State Commission for Protection of Women & Child Rights Act, 2018 provides for the appointment of Chairperson and Members who shall be appointed on the recommendation of a three-member Selection Committee. Vide Government Order No. 329-GAD of 2019 dated 05.03.2019, a Selection Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Advisor (G) to recommend a suitable name for the position of chairperson. The Selection Committee held extensively deliberations to scrutinize the nominations in light of the relevant provisions of the Jammu & Kashmir State Commission for Protection of Women & Child Rights Act, 2018. The Selection Committee had finally recommended the candidature of Vasundhara Pathak Masoodi for the position of Chairperson, Jammu & Kashmir State Commission for Protection of Women & Child Rights.