SYED ALI SAFVI
SRINAGAR, Oct 6: Senior National Conference (NC) leader and MLA Hazratbal, Dr Mustafa Kamal, today held senior separatist leader, Syed Ali Geelani, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and New Delhi’s “politics of betrayal” responsible for the Kashmir imbroglio.
Participating in discussion on the prevailing situation in Kashmir valley, Dr Kamal said that it was high time to expose the forces behind the present unrest.
Castigating successive central governments of India, he said that they can not escape the blame for the present political crisis in the valley.
He said that New Delhi had off and on betrayed the trust and confidence of Kashmiri leadership and Muslims of the state.
“The former home minister of India, Vallabhbhai Patel, had in 1953 moved a resolution in the parliament for granting special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir under Indian constitution. The resolution was seconded by then minister for industries, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee (founder of Bharatiya Jan Sangh),” he said. “But, later on New Delhi betrayed us.”
He said that on one hand Kashmiris were given promises like “sky is the limit”, but on the other hand the resolutions passed in the state assembly were consigned to the dustbin by the NDA government.
“Not a single recommendation of working groups was implemented yet,” he said.
“The successive governments at the Centre have failed to honour their commitments made with the people of Kashmir,” he said. “The main stake holders of the state should rise to the occasion and work for permanent resolution of the Kashmir issue,” he said.
Kamal urged India to take a step forward and sort out all impending issues with its neighboring country.
He said there were three elements, which were precisely responsible for the present unrest.
“We must identify the elements which are instigating the youth to throw stones and stopping children from going to schools,” he said.
Accusing the Geelani-led Hurriyat faction of being most responsible for the present unrest in the valley, Kamal said that the head of the conglomerate had taken oath under the Indian constitution.
Obliquely referring to chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani, the former health minister said that he had successfully contested assembly elections in the past.
“I wonder how come a person who has taken oath under Indian and J&K constitution is now asking people to raise slogans of Azadi,” he said. “Three of his (Geelani’s) colleagues had contested 1972 assembly election.”
Kamal said that the shutdown calendar issued by the octogenarian leader had made life miserable for people in the valley. He said Kashmir had come to a virtual standstill that in the last four months of unrest, with education and trade having suffered the most.
He questioned the conglomerate’s demand for separating the Indian state, given the fact that its leaders were the members of state legislature and were still enjoying perks.
Taking a dig at state’s principal opposition, PDP, Kamal said the leader of second largest party in the state assembly was equally responsible for the present situation in the valley.
Without naming former chief minister and PDP patron, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Kamal said that he had implemented AFSPA in the state, imposed governor’s rule four times, and brought notorious Jagmohan as governor of the state, who unleashed a bloodbath in the valley.
Referring to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq-led Hurriyat Conference, Kamal said that the Mirwaiz group, according to him, did not believe in violence and bloodshed.
“This group and National Conference were considered arch rivals, but Farooq (Abdullah) sahib bridged the age-old Sher-Bakra divide,” he said.
However, he said that the Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat faction was also responsible for misleading the youth and orchestrating violence in the valley.
“They are plotting for de-stabilizing the popular government of Omar Abdullah to settle their political scores,” he said. “PDP and both factions of Hurriyat are painted with the same brush.”
He maintained that other forces behind the present unrest were in fact working against the cause of Kashmiri people.
Kamal claimed that only NC had worked for the progress and prosperity of the denizens of the state “irrespective of caste colour, creed and region”.
Without naming United Jehad Council (UJC) chairman, Syed Salahuddin, Kamal said, “After claiming that 1987 elections were rigged, he lifted the gun and in the bargain one lakh Kashmiris were killed.”
Participating in the discussion, National Conference leader and MLA Gurez, Nazir Ahmed Gurezi, said termed the four-month-long unrest as “most unfortunate”.
He said it was high time to bring the valley back to normalcy and avoid politicking on dead bodies.
Gurezi said that there were several forces behind the present unrest.
Speaking on the occasion, Congress leader, Ashok Kumar, said that Kashmir problem needed positive approach from all stake holders.
He asked for early rehabilitation of victims of the unrest to stop its further escalation. He expressed gratitude to the central government for initiating several measures to end the crises in the state.
“For the last 20 years Kashmir has been reeling under violence and unrest. Purposeful dialogue under Indian constitution with all the willing parties was a must for bringing normalcy in the valley,” he said.
Ashok also said that unemployed educated youth of the valley should be given “lifetime packages”.
Participating in the discussion, senior BJP leader, Jugal Kishore, said, “Kashmir is not an issue but its government is”.
“Had PDP been in power, NC would have made issues and similarly if NC would be in power, PDP would create issues,” he said.
He said that NC had shifted all blame vis-à-vis present unrest on PDP.
“Kashmir already enjoys autonomy for the simple reason that if a law is passed in Parliament it can not be implemented here unless it is passed by the state assembly,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, senior leader of J&K National Panthers Party (JKNPP), Balwant Singh Mankotia, said that Kashmir was an integral part of India and threatened those who want to separate Kashmir from India of dire consequences.
“There are leaders who seek autonomy and self rule, I ask them isn’t this autonomy that even after speaking against India you are provided free ration by the same country,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, chairman People’s Democratic Front (PDF), Hakim Mohammad Yasin, emphasized on making the Nehru-Sheikh-Ayub discussions as the basis for solving all issues.
“While discussing the issue we should not forget the deliberations these towering leaders of the sub-continent had from time to time on the issue,” he said. “These deliberations should serve as beacon light while looking into any solution to the Kashmir issue.”
Yasin said that the Kashmir issue required sincere political discourse for its solution. He said New Delhi should take the issue seriously and involve all stake holders for a purposeful dialogue.
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