Ref: – Time running out fast for Kashmiris in view of impending elections.
Dear Sir
As per September 1 media reports Huriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, asked people of J&K to completely boycott the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state.
This appeal of Geelani means a lot especially in view of the fact that India-Pakistan dialogue, which is otherwise also merely eyewash, is stalled. And last week Huriyat (M) talks with New Delhi have failed which saw its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq lamenting on T.V that India is not serious about Kashmir solution. Apart from JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik who, on Friday during Safar-e-Azadi (journey for freedom) which commenced on May 20, said in a public meeting at Tangmarg that freedom struggle in Kashmir will continue till the goal is achieved.
People speaking same language and practicing same religion tend to live in one nationality / States and separating such people (having geographical continuity but with shared border / LOC) always create political problems. Therefore when it became increasingly evident that neither India nor Pakistan will be able to bring entire Kashmir (predominantly Muslim) under its one rule / nationality, then Kashmiris were left with no other alternative than to develop their own nationality.
Kashmiris have certainly earned their nationality with their blood where they have already lost, as per EU report, 80,000 Kashmiris for Kashmir solution of ‘Unified J&K’. And Geelani has of course hit the nail directly in the head of the problem when he realized that the complete boycott of the coming Assembly / impending parliamentary elections is the only and highly effective leverage with Kashmiris.
But given dissensions within these Kashmiri leaders and also with political leaders like Abdullahs of NC, Muftis of PDP, Azads of Congress etc., Geelani can succeed in his mission of time bound Kashmir solution only when he invokes the martyrdom of these 80,000 Kashmiris and endeavor (by forgetting his ego & personal ambition, if any) in order to unite all the people of J&K.
Being an astute & conditioned politician, Geelani must already be knowing that nationality mainly originates from & survives on martyrdom. Therefore, Geelani will be well advised to keep in mind and do the following: –
(1)- Geelani ought to launch a NGO which will take care of the human rights of the surviving dependents of these 80,000 Kashmiri martyrs.
(2)- In this NGO, Geelani ought to persuade also the above-mentioned Kashmiri leaders of all the hues, to participate.
(3)- This NGO should then persuade the people of J&K to completely boycott the forthcoming Assembly / Parliamentary elections in the state (or for conditional participation along with periodic progress review).
(4)- This NGO may work in tandem with other international human rights organization like Gender Concerns International at Hague, Netherlands, which is already working for securing the human rights for the women dependents of these 80,000 Kashmiri martyrs.
(5)- Once this NGO takes off then Geelani may mobilize the people and their leaders from Pakistan administered Kashmir in the interest of time bound solution to Kashmir problem.
(6)- And then after this, Geelani and his companions of this NGO ought to merely float and should not try to swim toward any preconceived Kashmir solution (like independence, autonomy, self-determination etc.) because in view of: –
(i)- Cold political turmoil in India (manifest also in on-going controversy over Indo-US nuclear deal) due to vigorous strategical interest, being taken by capitalist USA / EU and their allies, in 1130 million strong secular democratic India. Primarily due to increasingly re-assertive Russia along with fast emerging economical / strategic clout of China (both communists) and partly due to post 9/11 ‘global war against terrorism’ and
(ii)- Hot political turmoil in SAARC (Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal etc).
– Political scenario in South Asia is inexorably inching towards “Federation / United States of Secular Democratic SAARC Countries”. Therefore at this defining moment of South Asia’s history, for Kashmiris it will be enough and prudent to merely sulk (over delayed Kashmir solution of ‘Unified J&K”) by completely boycotting the forthcoming Assembly / Parliamentary elections in J&K while keeping a close observation / watch on the relevant events & developments.
Rest every thing else is bound to be taken care of (automatically, peacefully, without surgical pain and in the best interest of the people of J&K) by India, Pakistan & all-powerful said international community. Because no community, which lay down the lives of its so many people (as Kashmiris have done) for a nationalist cause can remain, for long, without being master of its own political destiny.
Yours truly
Hem Raj Jain
208, Supriya, Plot # 20, Sector – 10, Dwarka,
New Delhi -110075, INDIA.
Ph: – +91 11 32940177, Mob: 09871194983