The Hindu : Let the people of Kashmir decide: Geelani

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Thursday, Mar 28, 2002

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Let the people of Kashmir decide: Geelani

JAMMU, MARCH 27. The former All-Party Hurriyat Conference chairman and Jamat-i-Islami leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a known hardliner, says he is ready to accept the idea of Jammu and Kashmir remaining with India if the majority of the people of the State give a verdict to this effect. According to him, dialogue is the only way by which the Kashmir imbroglio can be solved but all sides to the conflict have to shed their prejudices and work in order to bring peace. Excerpts from the interview withLuv Puri.

Question: You are an outspoken advocate of the Jammu and Kashmir State's secession from India but in the past you have contested the Assembly elections and sworn by the Indian Constitution?

Syed Ali Shah Geelani: There is no doubt that I did contest the Assembly elections in the past and, by implication, sworn the oath of the Indian Constitution. But at that time, we felt that by ballot and by entering into the Assembly we could raise our voice, and in some cases we were effective. The mistakes made by India go as far back as 1953 when Sheikh Abdullah was sent to jail for 13 years and false charges were framed against him. But the breaking point and turning point came in the 1987 Assembly elections. The type of rigging of the elections at that time was unprecedented and the verdict of the people was thrown to dust. With manipulation, candidates who were not acceptable to the people were announced winners. This is the time when the people lost all faith in the institutions of democracy in India. Everyone in India is proud of democracy, but at that time there was no uproar over such a blatant murder of democracy in the State and all was accepted in the name of so-called national interest. It was the people's frustration and insensitivity towards their aspirations by the Central Governments that have brought the situation to the present level.

The Prime Minister and the Home Minister have reiterated that they would hold free and fair elections in Jammu and Kashmir. What is your opinion on that?

The statement of the Prime Minister itself concedes the fact that elections in the State have always been rigged. I am surprised that it has taken this long for people to accept that elections were rigged. But the Prime Minister's arguments hold little value as it has come a little too late.

After September 11 and December 13, world opinion is in favour of shunning violent means for fighting for any cause. In Pakistan also, Gen. Musharraf, on January 12, announced a crackdown on `jehadi' groups. Will the secessionist leaders in the State appeal to the youth to leave arms?

I want to make one thing very clear. Nobody picks up arms till circumstances force him to do that. The killing of innocents is condemnable and no sensible person can defend it in the name of any cause.

I condemn whosoever is responsible for massacres in the Jammu region. Islam does not allow terrorism. But I want to make one thing very clear. A lot has been made of Musharraf 's speech on January 12, and its impact in Kashmir. First of all, no struggle can sustain itself unless it has internal dimensions. People in Kashmir resorted to violence when there were disappointed and frustrated.

What about Pakistan's support to militancy in J&K?

My friend, no outside support can sustain any cause unless it gets internal support. If only outside power is responsible, then going by that logic Bangladesh is the creation of India.

Do you think that the Prime Minister's visit to the State will make any headway towards the resolution of the J&K problem?

If the Prime Minister is coming to the State then he should meet the people of the State, not merely meet Army personnel stationed in the State. I have least expectations from the present Government and I have my reasons for that. They have their own prejudices against the Muslim community. The incidents in Gujarat are a pointer to this effect. The way the State machinery in Gujarat facilitated the killing of the minorities has now even been accepted by the NHRC and other independent institutions.

Framing of draconian laws like POTA and the way it has been used in Gujarat have only strengthened the impression that it is specifically targeted against the minorities. What kind of democracy is this when people have no right to defend themselves and are put behind bars without trial? The foreign policy of this Government is another proof of its anti-Muslim bias. It has openly aligned with Israel, a country which kills innocents. With this kind of background, I am forced to believe that the present dispensation can hardly move an inch towards the resolution of the Kashmir problem.

What, then, according to you are the steps needed for resolution of the problem?

Dialogue is the one and only way by which we can solve the problem. India, Pakistan and the representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir need to be involved in this process. Shedding past prejudices is a pre-requisite for this. But I emphasise that the people of Jammu and Kashmir should have the final say about deciding their future as promised by India in the past.

I will be frank in saying that I am ready to accept any solution that the majority in the State decides, even if the people want to remain with India.

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