New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, who was booked under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) on 6 February, was referred to as Kota Rani in the dossier prepared by the J&K administration.
Kota Rani, who belonged to the Lohara dynasty, was the last Hindu queen who ruled over Kashmir. She was the daughter of Ramachandra, who was the commander-in-chief of Suhadeva — a Lohara king.
“The subject (Mufti) is referred, for her dangerous and insidious machinations and usurping profile and nature, by the masses as ‘Daddy’s girl’ and ‘Kota Rani’, based on the profile of a medieval queen of Kashmir, who rose to power by virtue of undertaking intrigues ranging from poisoning of her opponents to ponyardings,” the dossier said.
In new India, dossier on an ex Chief Minister slapped with draconian PSA mentions insidious machinations & being a ‘Daddy’s girl’ as charges. pic.twitter.com/DsMn42uUKS
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 10, 2020
The dossier also accused Mufti of making anti-national statements and extending support to Jamaat-e-Islami, an organisation banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Mufti, who is also the president of Peoples Democratic Party, was booked under the PSA along with former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah last week, barely a few hours before their preventive detention was to end.
The PSA enables authorities to detain any individual for two years without trial.
Also read: ‘Arbitrary, whimsical’ — Omar Abdullah’s sister moves SC against his detention under PSA
Kota Rani — known for her beauty & administrative skills
Kota Rani was married twice — first to Rinchan, a Ladakhi administrator appointed by her father, and then to Udayanadeva, brother of Suhadeva.
Rinchan later killed Kota Rani’s father and held her entire family hostage and appointed Shah Mir as a trusted courtier.
After Udayanadeva’s death in 1338, Kota Rani became the ruler of Kashmir. But in 1339, Kota Rani was defeated by Shah Mir. The same year, Kota Rani stabbed herself after Mir asked her to marry him.
The 14th century queen was known for her beauty and extraordinary administrative skills, and was seen as an icon of resistance — protecting the Valley from invaders.
She was instrumental in the construction of a canal, which saved Kashmir from frequent flooding. The canal was named ‘Kutte Kol’.
The canal, which is in Srinagar, gets its water from the Jhelum river at the entry point of the city and later merges with the river on the outskirts.
While the dossier says Kota Rani “rose to power by virtue of undertaking intrigues ranging from poisoning of her opponents to ponyardings”, ThePrint could not independently verify this aspect of her life.
In August 2019, Hindi film producer Madhu Mantena had announced that he would be making a movie on Kota Rani.
Mufti’s daughter on PSA dossier
On Mufti being referred to as ‘Daddy’s girl’, her daughter Iltija, who is currently handling her mother’s Twitter account, wrote, “Not unusual that she adored, respected & loved her father. They had an unshakeable bond & were each other’s closest confidante. Which is why she honoured Mufti sahabs commitment after his sudden death in 2016. Didn’t know loving your parent constitutes a crime.”
Believe it or not but PSA dossier drafted on instructions of MHA on Ms Mufti ,a former J&K CM states the following-
‘The subject is referred for her dangerous & insidious machinations & usurping profile & nature as ‘Daddy’s girl’— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 9, 2020
Iltija also went on to issue a point-by-point rebuttal of all the charges made against her mother in the dossier.
Following reasons invoked for slapping draconian PSA on Ms Mufti. Also issuing a point by point rebuttal In response to unfounded charges furthered by BJP.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) February 9, 2020
Iltija wrote that if her mother was a “scheming person” then why did the ruling BJP, “compromise on their ideology? Why did they forego core issues like maintaining status quo on Article 370 in PDP BJPs agenda of alliance?”
Mufti — the first woman CM of J&K
Mufti was sworn in as the first woman chief minister of the erstwhile state on 4 April 2016, after forming an alliance with the BJP.
The coalition, however, fell apart in 2018 after the Narendra Modi government refused to extend a month-long ceasefire in J&K on account of Ramzan.
On 19 June 2018, the BJP withdrew support and Mufti resigned as chief minister. Following this, J&K was was put under the Governor’s rule.
Also read: Omar’s ‘mobilisation talk’, Mehbooba’s ‘separatist’ stand — why ex-CMs face PSA charge