Life Under Detention: Kashmir Political Rivals Turn Friends

They say politics makes strange bed fellows, but in Jammu and Kashmir adversity has. The detention of mainstream leaders together at MLA hostel in Srinagar has apparently made friendship bonds between the otherwise political rivals in the Union Territory. The mainstream leaders who till last year were sworn political enemies, now share food in the hostel and spend hours together chatting about the latest events in the region, India and the world.

As many as 33 political leaders of different mainstream political parties are currently lodged at MLA hostel in the heart of the city. The leaders – mostly former ministers and legislators of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Conference (PC) – were detained hours before Parliament revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 and bifurcated state into two Union Torritories.

These leaders were first detained at Centaur Hotel which was designated as a sub-jail and were recently shifted to the MLA hostel. Now, five months of detention has set new friendship bonds between these leaders.

“Special curd is brought for former J&K minister Nayeem Akthar from his home. He takes some of the curd and rest is being distributed among all 33 detainees,” said relative of one of the detained political leader. “Now every detainee has developed special liking for the curd prepared at the house of former bureaucrat-turned-minister. The curd is being brought every day from his home.”

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