Any body who supports election process directly or indirectly amounts to treason and would be deemed as a traitor of the red hot blood of half a million Kashmir martyrs”, The chairman of United Jihad Council, and supreme head of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Syed Sallhudin said this during an exclusive interview with greater Kashmir.
Talking about the various dimensions of the ongoing liberation struggle the Hizb chief maintained that gun would remain relevant unless Kashmiri people achieve their inalienable right the right to self-determination guaranteed to them by international community and besides the leadership of India and Pakistan.
How do you see the parliamentary elections being held in Jammu and Kashmir? In your opinion what are the merits and demerits of these election vis-à-vis the final settlement of Kashmir dispute?
SS: Well, we the constituents and the heads of freedom fighting organizations of Jammu and Kashmir have made it clear, time and again, that elections are in no way substitute to Kashmiris’ right to self-determination. Secondly these elections have proved a futile exercise so for as the resolution of the core issue of Kashmir is concerned.
To the contrary it has been misused by India to hoodwink the world community at international level, giving the false notion that people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir have reposed trust on so-called democratic system of India, which is absolutely baseless and unrealistic.
The people of occupied Kashmir including the political leadership have always deemed these elections as fraud and as an Indian tactics to misled international community thereby daubing Kashmir conflict as an issue relating to the internal security that needs to be resolved through democratic process and mutual dialogue. And at the same time India has been using these elections a tool to cover the unprecedented human rights violations perpetrated by its troops in the occupied territory.
So, we have appealed the people not to support or participate in this bogus exercise. Any body who supports this process directly or indirectly amounts to treason and would be deemed as a traitor of the red hot blood of half a million Kashmir martyrs.
We have also appealed the Hurriyat leaders to come out from their drawing rooms and launch a comprehensive poll boycott campaign just to educate the masses about the fatal consequences of militarily controlled electioneering process, which can prove detrimental to the sacred cause of freedom.
UJC has yet again asked people to boycott polls, but during the recent Assembly elections people rejected the call and voted in huge numbers, which the critics by and large termed as peoples’ verdict against separatists. What do you say about it? Who is at fault, masses or the separatist leadership?
SS: I disagree with this impression or conclusion, diagonally. Regarding the turn over, our view point is quite different than what it has been articulated. The figure being quoted that there has been around 66% voting turn out during the recent so-called assembly elections, is absolutely wrong. In main cities and towns like Srinagar, Islamabad, Baramulla, Pulwama, Shopian and other major towns there has been a successful poll boycott campaign, though the forces present there with the help local pro-Indian elements tried a lot to cast fictitious vote—but ---- the people demonstrated overwhelmingly and refused to cast vote. It is example of urban areas. In rural areas, where there is massive troop’s concentration, people were harassed and threatened by the troops; the residents in these areas were warned of dire consequences and were categorically told that they will not be tolerated in case they did not come out for the vote.
In far-flung areas particularly the areas adjacent to borders and cantonment areas, army personnel by themselves filled the ballot boxes. The army personnel, in civil clothing, made long queues out side polling booths and later unleashed video footage terming them as Kashmiris.
However, I do admit that there are some areas where people did cast votes, but they made it clear that their vote was not against the freedom movement or against the separatist leadership, rather they made it crystal clear that they voted because they were lacking the basic amenities for last two decades.
At the same time mainstream political parties during the election campaign repeatedly narrated that they too stand for the ultimate resolution of Kashmir dispute. During the public meetings, they also admitted the fact that these elections have no bearing on the future dispensation of Kashmir.
Don’t you think the mainstream political parties used it as triumph card to woo the voters?
SS: Yes definitely for their pretty interests they took advantage of the situation and exploited the aspirations of innocent people.
While talking of poll-boycott, there is difference of opinion even Hurriyat is divided on this issue saying that this is a non-issue. How do you justify the boycott call and what is your logic as why should the people in Kashmir stay away from electioneering?
SS: Well, if you remember just after the recent assembly elections, the Indian state-craft both political and military leadership issued statements, wherein they stated that the separatists in Kashmir and Pak should learn the lesson that they can not deceive people in future. They also claimed that Kashmiris have come to know that there interests are well secured and related with the democratic system of India.
And secondly, Indians capitalized this election turnout at international level by parroting the same words that Kashmiris have yet again reposed their trust on democratic system of India. That is why we have always been against these sham elections which have nothing to do with Kashmir and Kashmiris but to strengthen India hand in the state.
Let me tell you one thing, elections in the disputed state have always been exploited by India. They have been exploiting in past, exploiting at present and will exploit it in future.
And about the much talked about democratic system of India let me tell you, the elections held in presence of over 700,000 military and paramilitary troops have no legal justification whatsoever. Imposing undeclared curfew, fortifying the constituencies and the polling booths by deploying massive troops, in such a hostile situation no democratic process can take place. What is democracy? Democracy means freedom of expression, if you allow mainstream political parties to come and run their campaign, why don’t you allow the separatists to use exercise this right.
Rather it is an imposed selection. Elections mean exercise of franchise, whereby, the people exercise democratic right in a free, fair and friendly atmosphere, which is totally lacking in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
The people who want to play Kashmiris’ case in Indian parliament must bear in mind that this is the same institution where a resolution regarding the draconian laws, like POTA, TADA and AFSPA, was agreed unanimously that give protection and immense powers to the armed forces of India to carry out genocide in Kashmir.
This is the same institution which adopted a unanimous resolution in 1994 saying that every government is duty bound to strengthen the bond between state and the center making sure that Jammu and Kashmir of 1947 including AJK is the integral part of India.
This resolution is still hanging like a sword. Any person, who says that he will go to the parliament to plead Kashmiris’ case, is impossible. How he can play the role in the parliament that has facilitated genocide of Kashmiris youth and strengthen India’s occupation in the state. This is nothing but a sheer mockery.
So these are some important issues that every Kashmiri should take into consideration.
Are you satisfied regarding the efforts being made at political front by the segregated groups of APHC?
SS: We are not satisfied really. We have recently appealed and appealed repeatedly that this is time to educate the masses about the fatal consequences of elections which are going to take place in J&K. We believe that this is high time that leadership should come out and tell the people that this election has nothing to do with their problems, difficulties, anxieties and aspirations rather this whole drama is being staged to strengthen India’s illegal occupation and to suppress the ongoing struggle for right to self-determination.
You see, Syed Ali Gilani who is heading his own group is under house arrest for last several weeks has appealed the people to boycott polls, regarding the other group led by Mirwaiz Sahib, they are still discussing what to do….they are caught up in an ambiguous situation. There is division of opinion whether to launch anti-poll campaign or not.
We appeal them to get united and come out with a consensus and go to the public and educate them about the fraud elections, which is aimed at outwit the separatists’ move that has been on high a pitch for so many months since Amarnath land row.
For UJC and even for ordinary people in Kashmir, disarray within the Hurriyat cadres has been a matter of grave concern. Will you play any role in this regard so as to bring them close to each other? What steps do you suggest should be taken to establish credibility of separatist circles?
SS: UJC believes that unless and until there is coordinated and united command of the entire movement on both fronts politically and militarily, this struggle will not embrace success. This is impossible...so we stand for united Hurriyat, we advocate for unity among all the freedom loving forces, the sooner it takes place, better is it for the whole movement.
We have tried out level best, so far, and trying at present as it is our conviction that all the freedom loving forces who are serious and sincere towards Kashmiris’ noble cause must purify their rank and file from all those elements whose credibility is not trustworthy. There are black sheeps in the separatist circles; people know them better than Sallhudin knows.
Secondly, the credibility of separatist circles, can be established on the basis of their contribution, sacrifices, their past commitment and present role for the holly cause. Then all the sincere elements should come forward positively, making Self-determination as basis to forge broad based unity to achieve the long cherished goal promised to Kashmiris by the international community.
This is the bottom line whereby all the forces can get united as there is no other viable option available at present.
In view of the political changes sweeping across the globe do you think gun is still relevant?
SS: Unfortunately people forget the reality while talking of Kashmiris resistance movement. When unarmed, democratic, political, and peaceful, diplomatic and constitutional struggle of Kashmiris, right from 1947 till 1989, ultimately failed and it is due to this failure, India’s intransigence and unrealistic approach, which forced Kashmiri youth to take recourse to gun, otherwise, Kashmiris are a peaceful nation and peace-loving by nature.
So is the case with present scenario, the United Nations has failed to fulfill the moral obligations regarding the settlement of Kashmir issue. If the big demagogues of the world fail to deliver justice, if India and Pakistan both fail to get the commitments with Kashmiri people honored, respected or implemented, what remains the alternative?
Alternative is the GUN, which is relevant and would remain relevant unless Kashmiris get the right to self-determination guaranteed to them by international community and the leadership of India and Pakistan.
The gun will also remain relevant unless the last trooper of Indian army is present on the soil of Kashmir and it has to be there till the unlawful Indian occupation comes to an end.
Secondly it is dogma of imperialistic forces, who say that gun is irrelevant, this is their own philosophy under the garb of which they suppress resistance movements. It has no logic at all. Take the example of Kashmir, 700,000 troops are there, under the cover of draconian laws they have been unleashing rein of terror and carrying out genocide of youth in the occupied territory. They are involved in massacres, killing, and molestation of women. This systematic genocide has been going on for last several years. Do you think or anybody can think under these unavoidable circumstances people will remain silent? No this is impossible; people in this world of mankind can in no way keep mum.
How do you justify that Kashmiris’ resistance movement is indigenous?
SS: It is cent percent indigenous; this is Indian propaganda that mercenaries are coming from across the ceasefire line, sponsored, financed, trained and equipped by the ISI. This is absolutely baseless and unfounded allegations, which India has been leveling against Pakistan every now and then.
As a matter of the fact, in Kashmir, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen constitutes 90 percent of force with hundred percent indigenous cadres. And other brotherly organizations are also Kashmiris; they are as good Kashmiri as Syed Sallahudin is.
What do you say about purported reports of Taliban presence in Kashmir?
SS: This is sheer propaganda of Indian intelligence agencies; actually under the garb of this propaganda India has been since long trying to launch a diplomatic move to gain sympathies of the Western World, NATO and other allied powers by saying that the forces fighting in Kabul are present in Kashmir.
But India has miserably failed and international community has not got misled by this disinformation. Taliban has no role in Kashmir and the purported reports about Taliban presence in Kashmir are absolutely baseless.
