SRINAGAR, 3 November — Veteran politician Mufti Muhammad Sayeed was sworn in yesterday as the chief minister of Indian-administered Kashmir, hours after he escaped unharmed from a grenade attack by suspected militants on his home.
Sayeed, a former federal home minister was administered the oath of office by Governor Girish Chandra Saxena at a 30-minute ceremony before more than 700 specially invited guests in a packed auditorium on the shores of the Dal Lake, in Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar.
Among those in attendance were the leader of India’s main opposition Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, and senior officials of Sayeed’s Kashmir-based People’s Democratic Party (PDP), including his politician daughter Mehbooba Mufti. Sayeed is to head a PDP-Congress coalition government in Kashmir for three years, before a Congress leader takes over for a second three-year period.
Earlier in the day, suspected rebels fired two rifle grenades at Sayeed’s house, in Nowgam suburb on the outskirts of Srinagar, family members said. One hit the chimney and caused little damage but the other exploded midair and injured a security guard, they added. Sayeed and his daughter were at home when the attack took place but were unharmed.
Last week, militants had issued threats against Sayeed, warning him of “dire consequences” if his PDP party projected itself as a supporter of the guerrillas. In its election manifesto, the PDP had said it would hold unconditional talks with Kashmiri separatists and militants battling New Delhi’s rule in the region.
The militants, however, said Sayeed’s statement had implied their backing for him and warned of “forceful action” against the PDP. Srinagar was blanketed yesterday with tight security for the swearing-in ceremony, with paramilitary troops patrolling the lake in powerboats and soldiers posted throughout the city.
Governor Saxena also administered the oath of office to Mangatram Sharma, a senior Congress leader from Kashmir’s Hindu-dominated southern region of Jammu, as deputy chief minister. Sayeed’s nine-member Cabinet also has representatives from Kashmir’s chiefly Buddhist region of Ladakh, besides the Muslim-dominated Kashmir Valley.
Sayeed did not contest the recently concluded India-organized elections in Kashmir. According to India’s Constitution, as chief minister he will have to gain a seat in the assembly in a by-election within six months.
Sayeed’s assumption of office as chief minister has raised hopes for a fresh beginning in the politics of the troubled Himalayan region, which has been in the throes of an insurgency since 1989 that has claimed the lives of about 37,500 people.
The four-phased polls saw Kashmir’s ruling Abdullah dynasty booted out of office. Farooq Abdullah, son of Kashmir’s legendary leader, Sheikh Abdullah, ran a hugely unpopular administration from 1996 to 2002 but his family has dominated politics in Kashmir for decades.
He was widely criticized for corruption and non-performance of his administration and the implementation of India’s recently promulgated anti-terrorism law, the Prevention of Terrorism Act in Kashmir. The PDP and Congress have both said they would revoke the controversial law.By Mukhtar Ahmed
& Agencies
SRINAGAR — Veteran politician Mufti Muhammad Sayeed was sworn in yesterday as the chief minister of Indian-administered Kashmir, hours after he escaped unharmed from a grenade attack by suspected militants on his home.
Sayeed, a former federal home minister was administered the oath of office by Governor Girish Chandra Saxena at a 30-minute ceremony before more than 700 specially invited guests in a packed auditorium on the shores of the Dal Lake, in Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar.
Among those in attendance were the leader of India’s main opposition Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, and senior officials of Sayeed’s Kashmir-based People’s Democratic Party (PDP), including his politician daughter Mehbooba Mufti. Sayeed is to head a PDP-Congress coalition government in Kashmir for three years, before a Congress leader takes over for a second three-year period.
Earlier in the day, suspected rebels fired two rifle grenades at Sayeed’s house, in Nowgam suburb on the outskirts of Srinagar, family members said. One hit the chimney and caused little damage but the other exploded midair and injured a security guard, they added. Sayeed and his daughter were at home when the attack took place but were unharmed.
Last week, militants had issued threats against Sayeed, warning him of “dire consequences” if his PDP party projected itself as a supporter of the guerrillas. In its election manifesto, the PDP had said it would hold unconditional talks with Kashmiri separatists and militants battling New Delhi’s rule in the region.
The militants, however, said Sayeed’s statement had implied their backing for him and warned of “forceful action” against the PDP. Srinagar was blanketed yesterday with tight security for the swearing-in ceremony, with paramilitary troops patrolling the lake in powerboats and soldiers posted throughout the city.
Governor Saxena also administered the oath of office to Mangatram Sharma, a senior Congress leader from Kashmir’s Hindu-dominated southern region of Jammu, as deputy chief minister. Sayeed’s nine-member Cabinet also has representatives from Kashmir’s chiefly Buddhist region of Ladakh, besides the Muslim-dominated Kashmir Valley.
Sayeed did not contest the recently concluded India-organized elections in Kashmir. According to India’s Constitution, as chief minister he will have to gain a seat in the assembly in a by-election within six months.
Sayeed’s assumption of office as chief minister has raised hopes for a fresh beginning in the politics of the troubled Himalayan region, which has been in the throes of an insurgency since 1989 that has claimed the lives of about 37,500 people.
The four-phased polls saw Kashmir’s ruling Abdullah dynasty booted out of office. Farooq Abdullah, son of Kashmir’s legendary leader, Sheikh Abdullah, ran a hugely unpopular administration from 1996 to 2002 but his family has dominated politics in Kashmir for decades.
He was widely criticized for corruption and non-performance of his administration and the implementation of India’s recently promulgated anti-terrorism law, the Prevention of Terrorism Act in Kashmir. The PDP and Congress have both said they would revoke the controversial law.
