Srinagar, Sep 11 (KNS): BJP J&K spokesman Altaf Thakur on Friday accused the National Conference of selectively presenting Kashmir’s political history and said the party’s legacy also included instances of political suppression and marginalisation of dissenting voices.

Reacting to recent remarks by NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, Thakur said the party could not present itself only as a victim of political developments while ignoring episodes involving its own political conduct.

“NC’s history is not a story of victimhood alone. It also has chapters of political suppression, intolerance towards dissent and the marginalisation of rival voices. Those chapters cannot be erased for political convenience,” Thakur said.

Thakur said Kashmir’s political history should be examined through historical records and accounts rather than political narratives.

Referring to Walter Lawrence’s The Valley of Kashmir, he said the work contained observations on the material conditions of Kashmiri villagers and argued that historical accounts should be considered in their entirety.

“History cannot be reduced to slogans. If the NC wants to invoke history, it must also be prepared to accept the historical record in its entirety,” he said.

Thakur also referred to the transformation of the Muslim Conference into the National Conference under Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, describing it as an important phase in Kashmir’s political history.

He questioned the political circumstances surrounding the change and alleged that political space for those opposed to Sheikh Abdullah subsequently narrowed.

Referring to Mirwaiz Yousuf Shah, Thakur said his exile was an important episode in the political history of Kashmir and argued that political narratives should also acknowledge voices outside Sheikh Abdullah’s camp.

“The political history of Kashmir cannot be understood by discussing Sheikh Abdullah alone. Mirwaiz Yousuf Shah and other competing political voices are equally part of that history,” he said.

Thakur also raised questions about the role of Halqa-e-Khawateen, the women’s wing associated with the National Conference, during the political developments of the late 1940s and early 1950s.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

He alleged that sections of the organisation were used to intimidate and publicly humiliate political opponents and people suspected of supporting rival political groups.

“Political mobilisation is one thing, but intimidation of opponents is another. The history of the Halqa-e-Khawateen and the treatment of political dissenters deserve an honest examination,” he said.

Thakur alleged that political opponents and families associated with rival political camps faced intimidation and public humiliation, and said such episodes should be part of any discussion on Kashmir’s political history.

“The same party that lectures everyone today about democracy must answer questions about how dissent was treated when it was itself at the height of its political power,” he said.

The BJP leader accused the NC leadership of advancing what he described as a selective version of Kashmir’s political past while highlighting its own contribution and overlooking the experiences of its opponents.

“Tanvir Sadiq and his political masters cannot pick convenient pages from history and discard the rest. Kashmir has a long and complicated political history, and every voice—whether belonging to the NC, Muslim Conference, Mirwaiz camp or any other political stream—deserves to be placed before the people,” Thakur said.

He called for younger generations to study original historical records and said political narratives should be subjected to public scrutiny.

“Truth does not fear scrutiny. If the NC is confident about its historical legacy, let it open every chapter for debate. Kashmiris are mature enough to distinguish between history and political propaganda,” Thakur said.

Thakur said the BJP would continue to raise what he called the NC’s “selective history” and seek a wider discussion on Kashmir’s political evolution.

“Those who built their politics around a particular version of history cannot now demand that uncomfortable chapters be forgotten. Kashmir’s history belongs to its people, not to any political family,” he said.(KNS)