Sensational interview of Mustafa Kamal by “The Kashmir Scenario english weekly newspaer”. Interview conducted by Rameez Makhdoomi

Sensational interview of Mustafa Kamal by “The Kashmir Scenario”. Interview conducted by Rameez Makhdoomi

Highlights

v  “Kashmiri pundits have helped time and again the exploitative  elements as a result of which they have been forced out of valley on several occasions and also called back”.

v  “Every witness account proves that Chattisinghpora massacre of SIKHS was carried out by Indian army and the fake encounter conducted at Pathribal by army also proves this”.

v  “Over the past few decades, there has been politicization of Jammu & Kashmir police”.

Dr. Mustafa Kamal, MLA Hazratbal, Srinagar is one of the prominent leaders of the ruling National Conference party. He is also uncle of J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and brother of the party patron Dr. Farooq Abdullah. Mustafa Kamal is known for his outspoken nature.

In a special interview with the Kashmir Scenario, Mustafa Kamal talks to Rameez Makhdoomi.

You had given flamboyant statement on AFSPA revocation but then finally you were forced to resign from the key party posts. Does not this suggest that Congress is becoming a heavy partner in coalition?

As far as my opinion is concerned it is based on reality. I talked everything within the paradigms of reality. The Armed Forces Special Powers act was implemented under special circumstances in 1990. Dr. Farooq led government did not agreed to its implementation and resigned. But at that time Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was Home Minister at centre and there was an intense pressure from centre to implement this law. This law was implemented under particular circumstances and for specific purpose. But now the situation has changed a lot and hence it needs to be withdrawn from J&K. Even when it was implemented we had not agreed. Now army claims that they cannot operate without this law and also says it needs constitutional protection in J&K, however when they fought tribal raiders and wars with Pakistan and China they did not had the same.

When Farooq Sahib took resignation he stated that I had violated the coalition dharma, but I do not agree with this as I had just expressed my view and did not  issued the statement officially or in capacity of an official spokesperson. He gave me the post on phone and took it on phone.

How do you view the current situation?

Let me put the facts before you-the history of Kashmir does not stand at 1990 but its root causes lie well before 1947. In the past two decades a venomous campaign has been launched against National Conference and its founder. Sheri-Kashmiri not even distantly related with those developments that he had been related with via a vicious propaganda. Take the case of accession; Sheri Kashmir was released 18 days after signing the accession agreement by Maharaja. Sheri Kashmir had stated that it was Pakistan who was responsible in putting us into the lap of “India” by attacking the Kashmir. Even the writers from Pakistan and Azad Kashmir have written against Pakistan on this issue and bear testimony to this fact. He had expressed his anger and surprise on several occasions that why India has not left after dragging the invaders out from a portion of state. At several sessions he had stated that Indian army had played a good job in dragging infiltrators out but was dismayed that why are they still here.

I would like to remember you that a famous writer of Kashmir disclosed in an article that when Qadia Azam`s wife met Jawaharlal Nehru she had stated that Kashmir should not be independent. There was somewhere mutual consensus between India and Pakistan to not let Kashmir be independent. In this regard, Kashmiri pundits have also helped time and again the abusive elements as a result of which they have been forced out of valley on several occasions and also called back.

Critics say much pitch was raised on the AFSPA revocation but the issue is now once again in cold store. What is your take on this?

AFSPA has to go and it has to be revoked in a very near future. The army is expressing undue fear that militants will drag them to court but it is not militants who will drag them to court. Those sections who have felt excessive injustice and excesses from army would drag them to court.

An eighty year old woman of Kunan-Poshpora and other scores of women who were gang raped by army would seek justice from them. Every witness account proves that Chattisinghpora massacre of SIKHS was carried out by Indian army and the fake encounters conducted at Pathribal by army also prove this. Those and victims of other massacres would seek justice from army.V ictims of several other massacres and fake encounters would seek justice from army such as the recent Machil fake encounter case. Lava would also be brewing in the hearts of the relatives of victims to get justice for their kiths and kins.

What would you have to say on bright human rights situation in Pakistan Administered Kashmir over that of Indian administered Kashmir?

I cannot say anything what is going in that part of the Kashmir, as I have not visited that part but they too have been suppressed. Anyways it is not right to draw comparisons.

According to several experts and people after several massacres and killings in 2008 and 2010 the people of Kashmir especially the victims have not been given justice?

Sheri Kashmir has stated that India is following the policy of “neither let Kashmiris live nor let them die of poverty” and Pakistan is waiting for the day till last Kashmiri gets martyred. Delhi has time and again betrayed Kashmiris here and Pakistan has also suppressed Kashmiris there.

Critics say you have not been able to punish police officials involved in 2010 killings?

Actually a turbulent scenario was created in 2010. When you pelt stones there are bound to be reactions. The life and property of common people was at stake and hence there were such consequences. But also at sometimes action of police was unfortunate. These situations arise here because of bad politics and unfortunately over the past few decades, there has also been politicization in the Jammu & Kashmir police. We are trying level best to provide justice to those who have felt the heat of excesses.

Some voices in the pro-freedom camp believe that Sheikh Abdullah was the father of freedom struggle and hence NC should be at the fore front for Kashmir resolution. What is your take?

National Conference is the pioneering party that seeks resolution of Kashmir dispute and we passed autonomy report in this regard which was unfortunately put into cold store by centre. You should bear in mind that during the past years NC party has suffered the most. Over 20,000 of NC workers including top leaders of National conference have been assassinated. We do not believe in armed struggle but have a firm belief on the political struggle. Most of the intellectual and leaders are in favour of implementation of NC autonomy report as a viable solution to Kashmir issue. The violent mode has cost us dearly and over 1 Lakh people have been killed (according to separatists) and majority of them have been Kashmiris.

So, if Kashmiri are dying. Isn’t there a need of dialogue between mainstream of Kashmir and pro-freedom of Kashmir to safeguard Kashmiri?

We are ready but with moderate elements of pro-freedom camp especially with the likes of Mirwaiz Molvi Muhammad Farooq who have considerable political base. It is not feasible to talk with hardliner separatists. Let me also state here that India is on back foot now and has to deal sincerely with Kashmir.

What are the chances of party in the upcoming Municipal elections?

The chances are very bright. National Conference as a party has laid firm foundation of the vibrant health & education sector and we have been tapping the power resources in an efficient manner. We are a party with great contribution and sacrifice and have a vision that appeals to the hearts and minds of the people.

What is the way ahead for getting out of the murky situation in Kashmir?

The attitude of Delhi has been constantly to betray the people of Kashmir and it has followed the policy of “welcoming you on the first day and stabbing you in the back on the second day”. Pakistan has also followed destructive mindset when it comes to Kashmir. But, I believe from quiet sometime a realization is coming among the Indian leadership to solve the Kashmir issue and sanity is slowly also coming among the leadership of Pakistan.

How do you view the row revolving around NHPC?

It has been clearly proven that NHPC is an exploiter and it has snatched the due rights of state & people. The J&K State will soon take its rightful projects back from the NHPC .We are thankful to Central Government for providing assistance in establishing power projects. We need NHPC support not as owner of our power projects but as facilitator.

Why do you not frequently visit the Hazratbal constituency and how do you view the problems faced by people of the constituency on account of drainage work carried out in winter season?

The winter has been quiet harsh. I am regularly monitoring the problems of the people of my constituency and seeing to it that they are resolved immediately. We carry out drainage work in winter season because in summer the water level is quiet on upper an level which creates problems in the drainage construction.

It is better to monitor problems and getting them resolved in this harsh season rather than visiting constituency in this harsh season which would prove a futile exercise. The constituency of Hazratbal is perhaps the only constituency in the J&K State which gets world class water supply 100 percent filtered through world class water supply project –“Rangil water Project”.

What is your message?

My message to the people is that they should show unity and raise their voice in united manner.

Omar Abdullah’s Flop Show-cover story the kashmir scenario 8-15 January 2012.

Omar Abdullah’s Flop Show

Y.S Bali& Rameez Makhdoomi

On January 5, 2009, Omar Abdullah became the 11th and the youngest Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir after forming a government in coalition with the Congress party. Tipped as Kashmir’s hope, he began with a clean slate and distanced himself from the political and administrative blunders committed by the previous governments.

Three years down the line, Omar Abdullah led Government has dashed the hopes of Kashmiris. The human rights record of Omar Abdullah led government has simply been awful and it is this bleak veracity which has dominated the news about the current government. The very first killing took place barely few hundred meters away from the residence of Omar Abdullah only two days after he was sworn in as Chief Minister of the state. The victim, Abdul Rashid Rishi, 45, a deaf and dumb man from South Kashmir’s Pahalgam was shot dead by the Army, when he was in Srinagar to meet the Ministers and seek a job for his adopted son Feroz on January 7, 2009.

Just after about a month and a half, two devotees were killed   in an allegedly indiscriminate firing incident by 22nd Battalion of Rashtriya Rilfes troopers of Indian Army in Bomai, Tujar Shaief, Sopore in the district Baramullah of Kashmir on 21 February 2009.

The situation turned ugly after the alleged double rape and murder at Shopian of Aasiya Jan and her pregnant sister-in-law, Neelofar. This incident led to valley wide protests. Hundreds of people was injured and one person died due to an injury caused by a tear gas shell. From May 30 to July 13 there were around 854–897 civilian injuries due to police action and one death. Around 60 police  personnel were also injured.

Then came the year 2010, the year which really worsened the reputation of Omar Abdullah as a leader. On June 11, as Tufail Ahmad Mattoo headed home from a tutoring center where he was studying for the medical entrance exam, a tear gas canister fired from close range bashed a hole in his skull. He died almost instantly. This tragic death led to 120 deaths of mostly young people throughout the Kashmir. For entire summer of 2010, the valley of Kashmir saw naked dance of death and destructions. Curfews and arsons became order of the day.

In 2011, although the Omar Abdullah Government managed to douse fires, but still the year was not a one that can be boasted of as a year with bright human rights record. Pertinently in 2011 , Nazim Rashid, 28, died in a police camp in Sopore, hours after the police picked him up to question him about his alleged role in the killing of a civilian. The incident caused widespread rage in valley and people came on streets to protest, thus police had no option but to accept that Nazim died in police custody.

In the same year, on 5 August 10, 2011, a police man ( SPO) and an army jawan jointly picked up a mentally challenged Hindu beggar from border district Rajouri and later staged his fake encounter in Surankote area of the neighbouring border district of Poonch on august 6 with the help of strong contingent of army and police. After killing him both police and army had claimed to have killed a divisional commander of Lashker-e-Toiba and his identity was announced as Abu Usmaan of Gujjaranwalla Pakistan. Dubbing the killed beggar as Lashker Militant , police handed over the body to locals for his burial . However, the luck ran out for the killers when the Moulvi, to whom body of the ‘militant’ was handed over for burial in Surankote, declined to do so on the ground that body was not of a Muslim as it hadn’t been circumcised. After probe, his identity was revealed as that of Ashok Kumar, a mentally challenged Hindu beggar.

And the year 2012 has also been started on a tragic note. A student was killed and two others were injured when CISF personnel guarding the National Hydro Electric Power Corporation (NHPC) power project opened fire on people protesting against power shortage in the Boniyar area of north Kashmir's Baramulla district, 90 km north of Srinagar. Altaf Ahmad Sood (22) died on the spot, while 70-year-old Abdul Majid Khan and Parvaiz Ahmad Khan (29) sustained injuries. Khan is in a critical condition.

Certainly masses and analysts are criticizing the Omar Abdullah led government over its seemingly terrible human rights record.

Ghulam Ali, a street vendor said, “The Omar Abdullah led government has miserably failed on every front and has simply been epitome of negative realities.”

While commenting on the topic, senior human rights activist of the state Khurram Parvez  and coordinator of Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies (JKCCS) stated-“From the day one itself the Omar Abdullah led government has been on weaker turf. The human rights situation has witnessed further downslide during these three years. The freedom of speech has been choked and extrajudicial killings have increased.”

Viewing from the analytical kaleidoscope, the first three years of Omar Abdullah led government have been a flop show especially vis-a-vis human rights and it would be interesting to see how the remaining three years pan out.