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| Poll Boycott Conundrum: Hurriyat Caught in Yes, No | | | Sushil Vakil
To-day is not yesterday-we ourselves change-How then, can our works and thoughts, if they are always to be fittest, continue always the same-Change, indeed, is painful, yet ever needful; and if memory have its force and worth, so also has hope-Carlyle.
The prophetic words of English historian and philosopher need to serve as a guide to all separatist leaders-moderates and hard-liners-who opt for a change but can't bring it on as they are still under the shackles of ISI bosses. The recent stand taken by separatists on the ongoing elections-boycott and no boycott-seems to be a result of its two decade long failed attempt to win freedom through violence and seccessionist means. Hurriyat's unanimous decision not to issue a boycott call clearly demonstrated that its leaders no longer believe in gun culture as it failed to serve any purpose. But its subsequent decision to boycott the same omniously points out that separatist leaders are still tackled by military boses from across the borders and have no say of their own.
Amazingly, for issuing no boycott call it took separatist leaders more than two decades while for re-boycott only a few days. It is another matter that there are no more any takers for its call as people have voted voluntarily despite militant threats in the last Assembly elections. Moreover, separatist’s slogan of Azadi too has become redundant in the changing scenario. The situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka has dealt a severe blow to so called freedom movement initiated by few disgruntled people in their respective countries. To some extent the developments in the neighborhood may also have forced separatist leaders in J and K to change their earlier line of thinking.
The near wiping out of LTTE by Sri Lankan forces is a grim reminder to all secce- ssionist elements not only in India but in other countries also that when government means business it can go to any extent. Realising that violence and dogmatism could do more harm than any good some, of the separatist leaders have decided to join mainstream and take the battle to Parliament.
It is welcome news that one of the Hurriyat leaders has jumped into the poll bandwagon while others are asking people to use their conscience on the issue. Precisely, it is for the first time that one of the separatist leaders has defied other colleagues and joined the Indian democratic process. The separatist leader is the son of late Mr Abdul Gani Lone who was killed for favoring meaningful dialogue with the government of India. Sajad Lone is contesting general elections from Baramulla. Mr. Lone’s courageous and path-breaking step is likely to invoke the ire of the militants and hard-liners of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference and their leaders across the border. Surely, he is the first separatist to participate in the LS elections in the past two decades of seccessionist movement in J& K.
According to Mr Lone "Fighting elections is a change of strategy, not ideology. I want to make it very clear that I have not changed my ideology. I still believe that a lasting solution is when you fulfil the aspiration of the people of Kashmir. It's a change of strategy, not that of ideology." In the larger interest of the nation it doesn't matter on what ideology Sajad is fighting elections as his participation will kickstart a new political process in the state. Undoubtedly, it is a small step towards a larger goal.
Realising the futility of calling for an election boycott, moderate faction called people to use their conscience whether to vote or not during the elections. The Hurriyat seems to have realised that boycott in Jammu and Kashmir is not possible as people in Jammu, Ladakh and other frontier regions will vote. Their claim is strengthened by the fact that despite similar anti-poll campaign by separatists, Jammu and Kashmir had witnessed a record turnout of voters in the Assembly elections late last year. But why it changed its tack very soon is a matter worth pondering over for people of the state. It clearly indicates that ISI ghosts are still haunting separatist leaders.
However, as usual, hard-line separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani has called for a boycott of the elections adding that "so-called elections, autonomy or transfer of power was not an alternative to the right of self-determination." He also had a dig at the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, for "taking undue credit for the India-Pakistan dialogue. The chief of the Democratic Freedom Party and separatist leader , Shabir Shah, has called for a total boycott of the elections.
After having failed to get a favorable response from the Centre on a broad-based “election commission” that would include personalities from India and Pakistan, the All-Party Hurriyat Conference is now testing new waters. The Hurriyat move came in for lot of flak and nearly all national parties were opposed to the suggestion of allowing any one from Pakistan to oversee the “fairness of the polls in Jammu and Kashmir.” Now the APHC is thinking of including people from the US and Western countries as observers and electoral officers.
United Jehad Council, an amalgam of militant groups fighting troops in Kashmir, has asked Hurriyat leaders to go for a door-to-door election boycott campaign. The Chairman and Supreme Commander of the UJC Syed Salahuddin urged the Hurriyat leadership to start an election boycott campaign and termed the coming Lok Sabha elections as a “big joke” with Kashmiri people.“ Salahuddin said people should know that the last state assembly polls served Indian interests. He said: “Pro-Indian parties managed to make people vote in their favour during assembly elections which later Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Indian National Congress President Sonia Gandhi termed as a win for India.” Could we presume that Hurriyat's change of heart was once again influenced by UJC as it is the most significant organistaion controlling militant operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Indeed, Mr. Lone’s decision to contest the election should be lauded. The fact that the people of Kashmir rejected the separatists’ call for boycotting the Assembly elections last year was a clear indication of their desire to assert themselves through the ballot. It is time for the amalgam to introspect that the agenda they are carrying forward is out of sync with the ground realities.
Mr. Lone’s decision shows that the idea of secessionism has become redundant for Kashmiris and that the Hurriyat leaders have lost their credibility. The entry of Mr. Lone in the democratic process will lead to high-profile clashes among the young leaders of the State, not through a poll boycott or violence but through ideological debates. Besides, it can be seen as a major setback to both Hurriyat factions as it will open floodgates to other leaders to join the democratic exercise.
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