Do you think a third front -
ideologically different from the BJP
but supportive of the revocation of
special status and the downgrade
to Union Territory status - will be
acceptable to Kashmiris?
We have heard that they are
trying to buy some people and
create a political front. It’s another
question who will be the Bakshi
Ghulam Mohammad [Bakshi, a
close aide to Sheikh Abdullah, took
over in 1953, with help from Delhi]
among them. They are in search
of people whom they will make
stand for an election. But that will
not work. These elections will have
no credibility.
After this calamity, we have to
be very careful. A mountain has fallen
on Kashmir and everyone has a
role to rid ourselves of this burden.
Do you think you will be approached
to join a potential third front?
I am sure they will try to approach
me. In the initial days, when this talk
of a third front started doing the
rounds, there were a few people
who tried to approach us who
appeared shady to me. I told Muzaffar
[Shah] they are coming here to
waste our time, let’s stay out of it.
Recently, Lieutenant Governor G C
Murmu said there would be elections
in the Union Territory of Jammu
and Kashmir. Will you participate?
I will not participate in such an
election. First and foremost, we
want the restoration of Article 370
in its original shape and structure.
Only then can we think participating
in elections. They have crushed us.
There are murmurs that Jammu
and Kashmir’s statehood could be
restored and Article 371, whose
provisions allow a degree of autonomy
to other states, could be applied
here. What are your views on that?
Whoever advocates a position
like 371 will be considered as a
traitor in Kashmir. What do we have
to do with statehood? Our demand
is 370.
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Do you think Kashmiris will keep
faith with electoral politics and
politicians who are part of it, even
though they could not protect the
state’s special status?
There’s no alternative. We
have to stand together. When you
have to face a daunting task, unity
is essential. I am not saying that I
am Khalida Shah and they should
bow before me. It will not happen
on our own.
Does that mean all regional political
parties in Kashmir should unite?
That’s what we will attempt. If
someone is slaughtering you, you
have to ensure that it doesn’t
happen. We have to show courage
and do something. I would like to
be part of that initiative or lead an
initiative which will unite all of us.
Our demand will be to get
Article 370 back in its original form
and shape, without any change.
That will be our demand come what
may. And I am hopeful, Inshallah,
we will get it.
What about separatists?
Of course, them too. What
happened on August 5 concerns
each and every Kashmiri.
It has to be a very thoughtful
fight and every step has to be taken
with care because our rulers are
very deceptive. Amit Shah has done
a doctorate in lying and you can
expect anything from him. It has to
be a political fight.
Every Kashmiri leader, wherever
he or she is, should think of uniting.
That includes separatists as well.
When a storm comes, it doesn’t
discriminate. And as we see, it has
already hit each one of us.
The Centre says that the revocation
of special status would ensure
development in Jammu and Kashmir.
Your views?
Kashmir has witnessed massive
development in the last 70 years,
be it compulsory and free education
or in the health sector. More
importantly, the land reforms which
took place in Jammu and Kashmir
have no parallels in history. Nobody
in the world has been able to carry
out land reforms the way they
happened in Kashmir.
We are a thousand times
ahead in developmental parameters
in comparison to many of India’s
biggest states. They are teaching
people now how to make bathrooms.
I call that “potty training”. In all my
life, I have never seen anyone
defecating in the open in Kashmir.
Why don’t they first ensure
drinking water to all Indians? In
Delhi, people sleep in pipes. In
Kashmir, nobody’s homeless.
What about the Centre’s argument
that it will end dynastic rule and
corruption?
First, BJP is a party that will join
any dynasty for power after accusing
them of being dynastic.
Dynastic rules are of kings, not
common people. Having said that,
when all your life, all you hear is
politics 24x7, you’ll eventually get
inclined towards politics. What’s
wrong with that?
Tell me which state in India
doesn’t have corruption? Have
they got rid of it in those states?
So, what do you think is the reason
for revoking special status?
They want to enslave Kashmiri
Muslims.
There’s a general perception that
people in Jammu and Ladakh are
happy with the August 5 decision.
Do you agree with that assessment?
No. Some people celebrating
in Jammu’s Raghunath Bazar or
some market in Ladakh is not the
voice of the entire region. In reality,
those two spots don’t matter. You
have to look at the region as a whole.
Particularly in Jammu, people
are worried that their land will be
snatched away because nobody
has the courage to settle in Kashmir.
For Jammuites, the calamity is certain.
In Kashmir, there is fear that the
constituency for separatism and
militancy might increase...
Class Struggle