Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti use Twitter not just to bicker with each other, but also to civilly disagree, sometimes agree or even to crack jokes.
New Delhi: Days ahead of Republic Day celebrations, former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were seen exchanging barbs on Twitter Monday over the state government’s order for its employees that made attendance compulsory on 26 January.
Arguing that such an order was no aberration in the state, Abdullah claimed that similar orders were also passed by Mehbooba’s father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the late J&K chief minister.
Please correct me if I’m wrong here but this isn’t the first time. Attendance has been compulsory in the past as well. In fact late Mufti Sb used to use state transport/police vehicles to bring supporters to show how much the situation was “improving”. https://t.co/g4vCgzdxXR
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) January 21, 2019
Sensing the sarcasm in Abdullah’s tweet, Mehbooba promptly jumped to her father’s defence, arguing that “accusing someone who isn’t around anymore to defend himself is beyond the realm of discussion”. Abdullah used this as an opportunity to point to her comments on his late grandfather, Sheikh Abdullah.
I dont mind debates Omar. But accusing someone who isnt around anymore to defend himself is beyond the realm of discussion. https://t.co/GZWPftwqMU
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) January 21, 2019
Not debating or accusing, simply stating a fact having seen it myself at Bakshi stadium. As for not accusing someone who isn’t around to defend themselves, the day you extend that courtesy to my late grand father perhaps you can take the moral high ground. https://t.co/lN6DMaxQ7f
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) January 21, 2019
While this Twitter spar may be the most recent example of the two rival leaders’ social media exchanges, the two are known to routinely engage with each other on the microblogging site.
Also read: 3 reasons why alliance with Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP could hit Congress, NC in Jammu & Kashmir
Engaging with each other
Abdullah and Mehbooba, who represent one of the most disturbed regions of the country, do not just use the platform to bicker with each other.
Every now and then, the two civilly disagree with each other on Twitter, sometimes agree, and, most importantly, crack jokes with each other — adding the much missed humour to the country’s political discourse.
Just a few days ago, Mehbooba expressed her disappointment at Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s tweet asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi “to be a man”, and answer his questions on the Rafale deal.
“As a woman, feel deeply disappointed when misogynistic comments are normalised in our political discourse. Be a man/ man up/ stop behaving like a woman – such phrases reek of blatant sexism. Ironical since Indira (Gandhi) ji was referred to ‘as the only man in the cabinet’,” Mufti tweeted on 10 January.
As a woman, feel deeply disappointed when misogynistic comments are normalised in our political discourse. Be a man/ man up/ stop behaving like a woman – such phrases reek of blatant sexism. Ironical since Indira ji was referred to “as the only man in the cabinet”.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) January 10, 2019
Seldom shy of expressing agreement with political rivals, within minutes, Abdullah tweeted in agreement with her.
“Well said @MehboobaMufti. You can add “are you wearing bangles?” “I’m not wearing bangles” to that list of comments that should have no place in our normal discourse,” he said.
Well said @MehboobaMufti. You can add “are you wearing bangles?” “I’m not wearing bangles” to that list of comments that should have no place in our normal discourse. https://t.co/bGkaBQTMjL
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) January 10, 2019
Adding humour to India’s tense political discourse
What’s more is that the two are not always serious with each other on Twitter — sometimes they communicate through emojis or simply revel in the curiosity their exchanges evoke among the observers keen to analyse the political permutations and combinations hidden in their ‘likes’ and retweets.
In December last year, Mehbooba shared a piece analysing the two liking and retweeting each other’s tweets, and what it could mean for the Valley’s precarious politics at a time when the state assembly had just been dissolved.
“Such is the power of @Twitter! If mere RTs and likes could trigger political speculations imagine what would happen if we followed each other@OmarAbdullah,” Mufti tweeted.
Such is the power of @Twitter! If mere RTs and likes could trigger political speculations imagine what would happen if we followed each other @OmarAbdullah ?https://t.co/dD1KleLv0a
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) December 7, 2018
Predictably, Abdullah shared this tweet too.
Again, last year, when Abdullah tried to call out Mehbooba for supporting both the National Democratic Alliance and United Progressive Alliance candidates for the Rajya Sabha vice-chairman elections, Mehbooba replied with an emoji of Pinocchio, the famous puppet from Carlo Collodi’s novel, who sees his nose growing every time he lies.
Abdullah too quipped saying, “hats off to whoever operates your account for you. They actually have a sense of humour. Nice emoji use.”
? hats off to who ever operates your account for you. They actually have a sense of humour . Nice emoji use ??
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 7, 2018
Also read: Alliance with NC & Congress is need of the hour: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti
‘Eases out tensions during difficult times’
Leaders from both political parties acknowledged that in times like these when civility in the national political discourse is generally on a decline, Abdullah and Mehbooba stand out in their ability to maintain a much-needed degree of cordiality and humour in public debate.
Naeem Akhtar, a spokesperson of Mehbooba’s Peoples Democratic Party, said the “pleasantness” comes naturally to the two leaders.
“I don’t think it is deliberate… In my opinion, both are very civil naturally, and that just comes across through their social media exchanges,” he said.
“Plus, this kind of civility is very much needed in a place like Kashmir, which is already riven with so many deep faultlines,” he added.
“If one faultline is turned into this kind of pleasantness, it helps ease out tensions during difficult times.”
National Conference spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq agreed. “It’s obviously a very good sign that the heads of two political parties which are archrivals can have lighter moments too,” he said.
“They are fighting for the same place, the same constituencies in Kashmir, so of course there is bickering, but the message these Twitter exchanges send out is that they may be archrivals, but not enemies,” he added.
“It’s something that people across parties can learn from that there is something called a social relationship, which goes beyond politics.”
Both come from fine, distinguished families.