Mian Bashir turned down CM offer in 1995, backed Kashmiri candidate: Mian Altaf

Kangan, Aug 14: Veteran Gujjar leader and cleric Mian Bashir Ahmad declined an offer to become Jammu and Kashmir’s chief minister in 1995 from then Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, instead recommending a Kashmiri candidate for the post, his son and National Conference MP Mian Altaf Ahmad said Thursday.

This disclosure was made by the NC MP, who is the son of the late Mian Bashir Ahmad, while addressing the thousands of people who had gathered to remember Mian Bashir Ahmad on his fourth death anniversary here on Thursday at Wangath Kangan.

Mian Altaf said that Baba Ji (Mian Bashir Ahmad) never ran after any chair or post and, at the age of 65, left politics to serve his community and people and dedicate most of his time to religious activities. Mian Altaf said that in 1995-96, then Prime Minister of India P. V. Narasimha Rao met Mian Bashir Ahmad and offered him to be the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, which Baba Ji refused on the pretext that he had already left politics and was not interested anymore.

However, Baba Ji suggested and recommended to Prime Minister Narsimha Rao that it would be better if anyone from the Kashmiri community were the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, adding that among Kashmiris, Dr Farooq Abdullah would be the better choice. Mian Altaf said that then PM Narasimha Rao had approached Mian Bashir Ahmad and said he would be the suitable person for the Chief Minister post given his experience and legacy. However, Baba Ji refused and rather suggested a Kashmiri to lead J&K.

It is pertinent to mention that, interestingly, in 1996, when the state assembly polls were held that year, the JKNC garnered a strong majority of seats, and Dr Farooq, who won in his constituency, became the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.