Taking It Beyond Wazwaan

To the PDP, the ex-IB chief’s appointment as interlocutor is a chance to reconnect with the people. But the mainstream opposition and the separatists are not enthused.

- Naseer Ganai

Wazwaan, a multi-course Kashmiri traditional meal, also known as the king’s feast, is served at marriage functions, family gatherings and religious and social events in the Valley. Political parties too throw Wazwaan feasts and the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is quite particular about it. Once a year, the PDP hosts a Wazwaan feast for journalists. Faced with bad press for the past one year over its handling of protests, the media-savvy party had been keeping the media at arm’s length. That changed after October 23, when the Centre announced the appointment of former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma as its interlocutor in Kashmir.

The PDP has welcomed the appointment as the first step by the Centre towards implementation of the Agenda of Alliance (AoA) the party had drawn up with the BJP, its ally in Jammu and Kashmir. As the PDP is facing a credibility crisis over this alliance, the party finds a ray of hope in the Centre’s initiative.

Elated party president and chief minister Mehbooba Mufti hosted journalists at her Fair View residence on Sunday, October 29. Wazwaan was served, but there was no press release or statement from the CM. Instead the guests were given little bags to take away what they couldn’t eat. PDP leaders believe that the Centre’s move has given them an opportunity to reconnect with the people and the party started the process with scribes. A day after the Wazwaan feast, PDP chief spokesperson and cabinet minister Naeem Akhtar attended the BJP’s working committee meeting.