The first death anniversary of late chief minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed on January 7 witnessed a new sun rising on the political horizons of Jammu and Kashmir. Putting yearlong speculations to rest, his son and award-winning cinematographer Tasaduq Hussain Mufti joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
45-year-old Tasaduq is among the probable faces for the upcoming Parliament elections for his native Anantnag, and Srinagar constituency seats. His presence in the party has equally come as major support for PDP President and Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti.
But does being CM’s kin gives him the authority to call the shots in official matters?
On January 11, flanked by a battery of senior officials from police and civil administration, he visited the Achen landfill site in Srinagar to review the scientific disposal of waste there. The government had kept the official machinery on tenterhooks for his visit.
Officials say Tasaduq reiterated the plans of his father and the then CM that a Kolkatta-based firm should be roped in for scientific disposal of waste at the landfill site. He also gave some directives on how to improve civic facilities in Srinagar.
Though senior officials of the rank of commissioners gave him an on-the-spot presentation of the ongoing works, the PDP leader looked unimpressed.
An award-winning cinematographer, who rose to prominence after his camera skills in films like Omkara, Tasaduq could be right in his viewpoint. But can he poke his nose in the government’s affair? After all, he’s neither a minister nor a lawmaker!
Interestingly, he enjoys such undue incentives more often than not. Earlier in May 2016, Tasaduq reviewed conservation of Dal lake. That time during a daylong inspection of the lake, he was accompanied by senior officials including Lakes and Waterway Development Authority (LAWDA), Vice-Chairman and Director Tourism Kashmir.
Being the Mufti family scion, he seems to be the future of PDP. However, he is setting a bad example by prematurely stepping into bigger shoes.
But then should he be given some benefit of doubt for politics was never his cup of tea? In his latest interview to a local daily Tasaduq says: “I was never interested in politics; my inclinations always lay towards arts!”
So, why this sudden political career, Mr Tasaduq?
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