Even as the recent clashes have been dubbed by them as frustration over no solution of the ‘larger Kashmir issue’, moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq sees no merit in talks with the central government. In a conversation with Saubhadro Chatterji, the leader, under house arrest, sets prior conditions for any talk. Edited excerpts:
Is the situation in Kashmir becoming worse?
The situation is quite volatile. The Centre, as usual, is mishandling the whole issue. They actually don’t know how to approach. It’s not the question of a few stray incidents. It is about the resolution of the Kashmir problem. A relative calmness had come back in the Kashmir valley, after years of gunbattle. This was the right time for the government to start dialogues for resolving the Kashmir issue. But New Delhi became complacent in this calmness. This was an ideal time to look towards the bigger Kashmir issue.
You all are blamed for inciting violence in the valley...
When we gave the call of the ‘Sopore Chalo’ march, it was a very peaceful protest. Our leaders repeatedly announced during the march that no one should say anything to the security personnel. For 11 kms till we reached Nagerpara, it was an absolutely peaceful march. There, the police and paramilitary forces reacted and started baton-charging, which changed the situation.
The last talks between the Hurriyat leadership and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government failed miserably. Are you interested in a fresh dialogue with the government?
It was most unfortunate that the dialogues failed. I had taken initiatives to start dialogue with the government on at least three occasions. But I don’t see any meaning in just going to New Delhi and sitting across the table. The government first needs to recognise the reality that people in Kashmir are angry. New Delhi also needs to stop seeing this anger through its usual Pakistan prism. And I don’t think the recent incidents have anything to do with the local governance. The problem is way beyond Omar Abdullah.
Dialogue has two dimensions. One is political talks and the other is the confidence building measure (CBM). We had given concrete suggestions to the government on the CBM front. Let the government repeal the black laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the valley. Let the government release political prisoners from the jail. These measures would have given a breathing space to the Kashmiris. But the army refuses to go even as the government itself admits that number of terrorists have come down. The army has a vested interest in the valley. It has unaccounted resources and power. Withdrawal of army from the valley can be the biggest CBM.
But the Hurriyat Conference itself is a divided lot. There is no unity in its views...
Yes, I admit we have difference of opinions among the various leaders. There are hardliners like S A S Gilani. There are people with moderate views like me who want to look for a political solution through dialogues. But these differences would not matter if New Delhi shows sincerity in solving the Kashmir problem.