Of The Sin And The Sinners

Syed Ali Safvi

As elections approach and poll fever grips the State, political parties have started the blame game to win over the gullible public. The practice of blame game, however, cannot always prove productive. It may, at times, land you in trouble, and expose that part which you otherwise want to conceal or try to erase from public memory.

On February 28, National Conference President Omar Abdullah while addressing media persons after his party's three-day extended Working Committee meeting castigated rival Peoples Democratic Party's patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, saying Mufti was responsible for the turmoil in the State. Earlier, the PDP patron had alleged that the NC patron was responsible for the current situation in Kashmir.

"If Farooq was responsible for turmoil in the State as blamed by PDP, then Mufti was equally responsible for it," Omar said. All said and done! We all know who is responsible for the current situation in the State, or for that matter, who deserves "greater blame."

Omar sees the mote in another's eye but not the beam in his own. History bears testimony that National Conference has always deceived Kashmiris. First it was its founder who betrayed Kashmiris at a crucial juncture of Kashmir history. His contribution to the Kashmir conflict is significant. The raison-d'être of Sheikh's 'Quit Kashmir Movement' was the removal of Dogra rule and its replacement by an independent Kashmir, but later on he developed strong affection towards India, or to be more specific, towards Jawaharlal Nehru, who after all was responsible for his release from Maharaja's prison. Sheikh became the victim of Indian treachery. Had he remained steadfast on his stand and not got influenced by New Delhi, I wonder how history would have turned? However, Sheikh again started advocating secession in 1953, but changed his position again in 1975 and signed the Kashmir Accord. Sheikh is not only responsible for Kashmir tragedy but he is obliquely responsible for many tragedies in the subcontinent.

NC has been twice betrayed by New Delhi. First in 1953, when the Indian loyalist and NC founder was put behind bars for his constant demand of the "promised" autonomy; again in 1984 when Farooq Abdullah was dismissed from office as chief minister by the then Governor Jagmohan at New Delhi's behest. Unfortunately, the NC leaders have not learned the lesson yet. The leaders of National Conference continue to play into the hands of New Delhi. Farooq Abdullah's NC rigged the infamous 1987 assembly elections. The rigging fanned the flames of discontent, sowed the seeds of armed upheaval and further strengthened the anti-India elements in the State.

When the democratic exercise is used as a political manoeuvre; as a political apparatus to breach people's aspirations, the consequences are always disastrous. And that's what exactly happened in our State. It is against political ethics, if there are any, to make capital out of people's sufferings.

Today NC leaders are protesting against human rights violation. A travesty of justice, indeed! Not long ago it was this party which formed the special operations group (SOG) of police and bestowed it with abundant powers and a license to kill. The SOG sleuths unleashed a reign of terror and committed gross human rights violation in the State. NC gave nod to draconian law like Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTA). Shedding crocodile tears now will cut no ice.

Farooq Abdullah, the political chameleon, has many strings to his bow. Controversies have been part and parcel of his political life. He is known for delivering different statements in New Delhi and Srinagar. Not long ago the former chief minister astonished his admirers by questioning the righteousness of accession to India. "People like Farooq Abdullah will also have to start thinking twice about it," he said, questioning the accession. The same person had once said that accession of J&K to India was "complete, final and irrevocable".

"Those who talk of accession still being incomplete are trying to fish in troubled waters, at the cost of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and its progress. Their basic aim is to keep the pot boiling, because they do not want either peace or progress in this sub-continent." (My Dismissal, Farooq Abdullah, page 83, 84)

Now, Mr Abdullah can you tell us who is trying to keep the pot boiling? Farooq's son seems to be a chip of the old block. He should, however, know that the public memory is not that short. He may have forgotten what his party did but the people of Kashmir have not forgotten anything. The wounds inflicted by NC have not yet healed. For God sake, stop this blame game and come out of your self-made cocoon. Admit your slip-ups and misdemeanours'. How long will you continue the exercise of brazenly cheating Kashmiris? Time has changed and you too need to change. Levelling accusations will not solve the problems of a common Kashmiri. You can not win over the hearts and minds of people unless you practice what you preach.