Date:03/04/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/04/03/stories/2004040300781300.htm

National - Elections 2004

Q & A : Mehbooba Mufti.

'All roads to peace lead from Kashmir'

The People's Democratic Party president, Mehbooba Mufti, is presently one of the busiest politicians in Jammu and Kashmir. Apart from being responsible for preparing her party cadre for the elections, she also has to campaign for herself. She is contesting the Lok Sabha election from the Anantnag constituency, once represented by her father and Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. In a conversation with Shujaat Bukhari at her residence, she talks about the peace process in Jammu and Kashmir and the centrality of the State in determining India-Pakistan relations. Excerpts:

Why have you chosen to fight the Lok Sabha election when you have larger responsibilities as the PDP president and as the Pahalgam MLA?

See, the peace process in Kashmir, both at the internal and external levels, is at a crucial stage. So it is important to convey our viewpoint more forcefully in a forum like Parliament. The National Conference had five MPs in the last Lok Sabha but they miserably failed in representing their people. There is malicious propaganda going on about Article 370 and issues linked to it. We need to put things in the right perspective. I thought it was the best forum for me to represent my people.

How different is this election for you and your party?

The achievements of the 2002 Assembly elections, in terms of restoration of the people's trust in the democratic process, will be further consolidated by this election. People voted for a change and the dialogue between the Centre and the Hurriyat took place besides a breakthrough in India-Pakistan relations. And it is a good opportunity for the people to strengthen the democratic process that can usher in complete peace in the State.

You fought the 2002 Assembly elections on the human rights issue and promised a job for every family in the State. What are going to tell the people now?

The issues are almost the same. But we have really done well on the political front. We did not implement POTA; we merged the Special Operations Group with the regular police. We ensured that New Delhi took the initiative to hold talks with the secessionists. Atrocities against people have gone down, but we need to further concentrate on that. We have given 40,000 jobs that too in a transparent manner. We are for productive jobs. We will again tell the people what we plan to do for their betterment.

The National Conference has accused your party of using the thaw in India-Pakistan relations as an election issue and says that the State Government as such has no role to play in it.

All roads to peace between India and Pakistan lead from Kashmir. It is the atmosphere here that made the peace initiative between the two neighbours possible. How can you ignore the role of Kashmir, when these two countries have fought three wars over it? Whether it is Mufti Saheb or anybody else, Kashmir has a definite role in it and we will make the people aware of that.

Do you think the boycott of this election proposed by some will have an adverse impact on the electoral process?

I do not think so. Since 1996 there have been boycotts here and there. But they had little impact on the overall process. People have realised the futility of staying away from the poll process. Those calling for a boycott now were once demanding talks between India and Pakistan. Now that this [the talks process] has begun, I do not see any point in giving such calls. Besides the resolution of the Kashmir issue, people have day-to-day problems also which need to be tackled.

Is the women's Bill going to be an issue?

We will not make it an issue. But if the people ask us to tell more about it we will. And secondly, we have succeeded in having a 100 per cent consensus on the Bill in the Assembly. Even the BJP member supported it. And on the other hand the people know how the NC misused its brute majority in the Assembly from 1996 to 2002.