Hashim Qureshi wrote in his Article: Election Boycott what we do as a Nation? A common complaint of people of any ideology is that the mainstream party, after winning in the elections and forming the government almost disappears from public gaze. No problem is solved and the only task for them is to indulge in corruption. In the spirit of the axiom more loyal than the king, these elected representatives are more exploitative than their masters. NC has the reputation of sending people to jails. Some questions arise and people try to seek answers in drawing rooms, shops, factories, schools and colleges and homes. Geelani Sahib and pro-freedom or accession to Pakistan protagonists have always considered mainstream parties, especially NC as the source of oppression and suppression in Kashmir. If that is the case why don’t we first oust them from power? 1. Kashmir issue is hanging fire for last 65 years. Under Plebiscite Front banner the struggle for plebiscite was carried for twenty two years. But at the end of the day the long struggle was called “wandering in the wilderness”. 2. People took up the gun. More than eighty thousand are said to have perished; properties are destroyed, women molested, education came to nadir and economically we were dragged to the deep abyss. Despite all this the voice of Kashmir’s has not been heard by the international community nor did the gun yield any positive result. 3. Gun totting guys left the gun and joined political struggle. 4. Despite these huge sacrifices the very political parties are ruling over the people in Kashmir who have vandalized the rights of the people in collusion with India. 5. Everybody asks the question: what next? Dimensions of civil disobedience and stone throwing were also added to the struggle. The result was zero. What the is the way of breaking this stalemate? I don’t think freedom struggle can become popular with the people unless the organizations and groups engaged in the struggle address the day to day problems. Of the people simultaneously with the struggle. Freedom struggle is a long affair. People can be easily lured by a political party that plays the politics of power. The present day political leadership working only for power stands exposed in the eyes of the people. For a long period of more than six decades the leaders have not been able to solve peoples’ problems. People are dissatisfied with these political parties. It is different matters that people are forced to knock at the door of these parties. I have two examples. In 1946 India was still a British colony and British law was in force. Indian National Congress and Muslim League both participated in elections under the leadership of the Viceroy. The two parties formed a coalition government. Despite that these parties did not give up their struggle for independence. It was as early as 1937 that Muslim League and Congress had taken part in provincial elections. Second example is of Palestinians. Despite the control of Israel, PLO assumed control on some parts of Palestine and continued its struggle for freedom. Thus the struggle of freedom and struggle for bringing relief to the people both went on simultaneously. I think separatists have two ways of joining elections in J&K State. One is to follow the example of Latvia and Lithuania. Let all separatists come to the people and vigorously campaign for elections. They can tell people how they have been fighting for last sixty five years for freedom. All forms of struggle were tested but we could not build world opinion in our favour. We could not take Kashmir out of Indian control through the use of gun. The only way left is to go to the assembly and through a majority of vote prove to the world that we want freedom. We pass resolution for freedom like in Latvia and Lithuania. This will make clear to the people of India that Kashmir’s will settle for nothing less than freedom from India. If separatists are not prepared for this option, then the other option is that we return educated, honest, and right thinking people on each assembly seat--- those who support the freedom of Kashmir. They have to be prepared for fighting election in each constituency. People have to be convinced that they should vote only the candidates thus nominated. This will leave no chance for the mainstream parties to field their candidates in the elections. I would like to remind you that mainstream political parties are trying to discredit us in the eyes of freedom fighters and the people by spreading the canard that some people get from us hefty sums to propagate boycott of elections and boycott has been commercialized. Once they are declared victorious, they repeat the game of putting children, youth, women and old people in the prisons. They will get PSA imposed by SPs and DCs, reintroduce nepotism, bribery and tyrannical methods. The world will be told that there is democracy and elections were held in democratic way. I know many people who have been my colleagues in the struggle for freedom will have reservations in accepting what I say about participation in elections. People are used to backbiting. But during 44 years of struggle I have never taken these things as serious meaning who opposes me for what. I don’t care to know whether my interests are served or not. But according to my sentiment, after God it is the native land that has to be worshipped, its people and their respect and dignity. Let me conclude by repeating that legally I am not eligible for taking part in election. This article was published in Daily Greater Kashmir on 5th June 2013.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Apr 2014 08:42:46 +0000
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