Beg's
Rebellion: A Young Reporter's Glimpse into NC's First Major Split
As I followed the political drama unfolding over the past fortnight and watched Dr. Farooq Abdullah address the media today after meeting, behind closed doors, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and a number of reportedly dissatisfied NC legislators, I could not help recalling a brief but dramatic revolt that rocked the National Conference (NC) in the late 1970s.
At the time, I was a cub reporter, having only recently joined the Srinagar-based daily Aftab. Its owner and editor, Khawaja Sanaullah Bhat, who was also my first formal mentor in journalism, assigned me to cover a press conference at Mujahid Manzil, the NC headquarters in downtown Srinagar. The conference was being addressed by the party's General Secretary, Khawaja Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah, at a moment when the ruling party was facing one of its most serious internal crises.
The controversy had been triggered by
allegations made by Chief Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah against his
longtime associate and trusted lieutenant, Mirza Mohammad Afzal Beg. The Sheikh
accused Beg of encouraging defections within the NC during elections to the
State Legislative Council. To substantiate his charge, he cited Maulvi Mohammad
Yasin Hamdani, a prominent religious leader and serving MLA, as the principal
witness against Beg.
The Sheikh's demand that Beg step down,
followed by his dismissal from the party, sent shockwaves through the NC. A
group of legislators rallied around Beg, giving rise to what appeared to be a
significant rebellion and raising questions about the party's unity and future.
Against this backdrop, Shah's press
conference drew considerable attention. As journalists gathered at Mujahid
Manzil, we were surprised by what unfolded. Several of the legislators who had
been identified with the rebel camp appeared at the press conference and, one
after another, publicly reaffirmed their loyalty and allegiance to the Sheikh and
the party.
Among those present was Maulvi Abdur Rashid
of Banihal, who can be seen in the photograph taken on the occasion by our
staff photographer, Muhammad Amin. The photograph also captures some familiar
faces from the journalistic fraternity, including senior journalists (from
right to left) Mohan Chiragi, myself, O. N. Koul and J. N. Sathu (sitting at
extreme left is Moulvi Abdur Rashid). Looking back, the image serves as a
valuable snapshot of a turbulent chapter in Kashmir's political history.
Khawaja Sahab asked me to meet Beg Sahab and interview him for the newspaper. Accordingly, I visited him at his residence in Rajbagh. The moment I introduced myself as a reporter from Aftab, he flew into a rage.
“You people
are siding with falsehood,” he protested. “You publish everything Sheikh Sahab
says, yet you have completely ignored my side of the story.”
“Sir, I
have come precisely to hear your viewpoint firsthand,” I replied.
My response
seemed to soften him. A faint, grim smile appeared on his face, and he agreed
to speak with me.
During the
interview, he made several sharp observations about Sheikh Sahab and levelled a
number of allegations against both him and some of his close associates.
The
interview became the lead story in the next issue of Aftab.
Sheikh Sahab chose not to respond, and there was no reaction whatsoever from
him to the remarks made by Beg Sahab. Nevertheless, the interview created quite
a stir. It became the talk of the town and remained a major topic of discussion
in Kashmir's political circles for days afterward.
Although the immediate rebellion appeared
to fizzle out, Beg was not prepared to retreat. In October 1978, following his
expulsion from the NC, he launched a separate political organisation, the
Inquilabi National Conference (INC). However, the new party struggled to
sustain momentum. Many of the legislators who had initially shown sympathy for
Beg soon drifted back to the parent organisation, significantly weakening the
breakaway movement.
By 1981, it had become clear that the split
had failed to achieve its objectives. Recognising the political futility of the
division, and reportedly troubled by declining health, Beg formally dissolved
the INC in late September 1981. Most of his remaining supporters subsequently
returned to the NC fold, bringing the episode to a close less than a year
before Beg's death in June 1982.
Political fortunes, however, often take
unexpected turns. Beg's son, Dr. Mehboob Beg, entered electoral politics soon
thereafter. He contested his first Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly
election from Anantnag in 1983 and secured a convincing victory, becoming an
MLA for the first time. The following year, he was inducted into the state
cabinet and served as Minister for Health, Medical Education and Family
Welfare.
Over the next several decades, Dr. Mehboob Beg remained an influential figure in the region's politics. He served as the Provincial President of the NC during 2003–2009. In 2009, he won the Lok Sabha election from Anantnag on a NC ticket. Yet political alignments continued to evolve. In November 2014, he withdrew from the Assembly election race and announced support for Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the patron of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). The following year, he formally joined the PDP and was appointed the party's Chief Spokesperson.
Looking back, the episode of Beg's rebellion illustrates both the fragility and resilience of political organisations. What once appeared to be a serious challenge to Sheikh Abdullah's leadership ultimately proved short-lived. Yet for those of us who witnessed the drama firsthand, including that memorable press conference at Mujahid Manzil, it remains an unforgettable chapter in the political history of J&K. The July 1984 rebellion remains the only large-scale and genuine uprising in NC's history, although critics have often dismissed it as a struggle driven by the pursuit of power.
Dr. Beg was among the legislators who defected, alongside Abdul Jabbar Sheikh (MLA, Kangan), Talib Hussain (MLA, Rajouri), Hassam-ud-Din Banday (MLA, Hazratbal), Sona Ullah Dar (MLA, Pulwama), Ghulam Hassan Mir (MLA, Tangmarg), Mohammad Khalil Johar (MLA, Bandipora), Hakim Mohammad Yasin (MLA, Khansahab), Munshi Habib Ullah (MLA, Kargil), Dilawar Mir (MLA, Rafiabad), and the nominated members Khem Lata Wakhlu and Gurbachan Kumari Rana. Despite his defection, Dr. Beg was later seen back in the Farooq Abdullah-led NC during the subsequent years.
