TO VOTE OR NOT TO VOTE? IN KASHMIR THAT IS THE QUESTION

TO VOTE OR NOT TO VOTE? IN KASHMIR THAT IS THE QUESTION

Its election time once again and the Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani has fired his first shot by making a public appeal for boycotting the 2014 assembly polls in Kashmir. However, this has not caused any ripples in the political, media or social circles as our venerable patriarch has been religiously making such appeals on the eve of each and every election in Kashmir. But what seems to have certainly caused some uneasiness within the separatist camp is the announcement by the Peoples’ Conference Chairman Sajjad Lone that he would contest the forthcoming elections and asked his workers to take the party’s slogan of ‘Change’ to the people. 

Reacting almost immediately to Lone’s decision of joining ‘main stream’ politics, a piqued Syed Ali Shah Geelani, hit out at him saying, “The Peoples’ Conference led by Sajad Lone claims that it would bring change; the fact is they will only bring miseries. They will become part and parcel of a country that has anti-Kashmir agenda since 1947.” However, instead of being cowed down, Lone quickly retorted by saying, “Geelani was the best gift that the ‘status quo’ lobby in New Delhi could aspire for!” He also went on and questioned the wisdom of Hurriyat (G) chairman’s ‘resistance- strategy’, by stating that “The Kashmiri nation wants to know what his policy of back-breaking hartals and election boycotts have achieved till now?”  And so, we once again find that instead of fighting New Delhi, our leaders are busy with their own internal squabbles.  

The present standoff between Geelani and Lone is not something new. Readers will recall the acrimonious war of words between the two- way back in 2008, when Lone decided to contest elections. Geelani had then accused Lone of fielding “proxy candidates” in the State elections and Lone had retorted by calling Geelani “a liar” who was working “in tandem with Indian agencies.” Though an undeclared truce followed, it was evident that neither had forgotten, let alone forgiven, each other. However, instead of resolving differences between the two warring leaders, the separatist conglomerate made all-out efforts to hastily ‘bury’ this issue, which was far from dead. And so, it is but natural that the un- exorcised ghost of 2008 has risen from its grave and come to haunt us again in 2013!

The current spat between Geelani and Lone over the decision of the latter to contest the forthcoming Assembly elections is being perceived by many constituents of the Hurriyat as a major embarrassment for the separatist conglomerate. So, they are doing their best to once again hastily ‘bury’ this issue by attempting to play it down, rather than address it; even as Geelani and Lone are involved in a verbal duel in which both have adopted a uncompromising posture.  And it is this obdurate attitude that smacks of a medieval mindset characterised by a penchant for autocratic dispensation by separatist leaders. It is not that the Hurriyat lacks the vision or ability to distinguish between illusion and reality- it seems that this amalgam is acting just like the proverbial ostrich, which thinks that it can overcome an imminent danger by merely burying its head in the sand. None seem to realise that this is the writing on the wall and a timely warning that the days of autocratic leadership and issuing dicktats are over. So, rather than considering it to be an embarrassing irritant and obfuscate this issue by rhetoric, the Hurriyat would do well to accept the changed situation and set its own house in order!

Come to think of it, there has been no democratic mass movement in the known history of mankind that has ever been propelled by a singular objective as its driving force. While the successful movements and struggles are subsequently eulogised by historians with a heavy coating of patriotism to conceal its blemishes, we all know that there are numerous reasons (ranging from the devious to the virtuous) that motivate people to become part of any movement. The issue of whether the separatists should take part in elections or boycott them has been debated for long, but there has been no consensus, since both options have their own pros and cons. And if this be so, then why is the Hurriyat (G) chairman trying to ‘straight-jacket’ public opinion by telling the people not to cast their votes? Does he not understand that by doing so, he could well be considered guilty of the very same crime, which he so vociferously accuses New Delhi of- that of ‘imposing decisions’ on the hapless people of Kashmir?

 Therefore, the time has come for the Hurriyat leadership to change its antiquated mindset and accepting ground realities, view dissent more positively. Unfortunately, instead of viewing the expression of divergent views on various issues as a positive indicator of a vibrant and truly democratic organisation, the various separatist factions have sought to make it an issue for confrontation. Unless it mends its ways, the Hurriyat will remain an ornamental congregation of feudal chiefs without any unity and this may not be good for the separatist conglomerate in the long run.  The result of this is right in front of us to see- the ‘Geelani versus Lone’ fight, which broke out in 2008 over the issue of whether separatists should participate in polls has once again resurfaced. And unfortunately, some very unkind words have been traded by both the leaders since then, which is really embarrassing for the people of Kashmir who consider the separatists as their guiding lights.

Why are elections in Kashmir being made out to be such a big issue? In trying to humiliate New Delhi by asking people not to vote, doesn’t the Hurriyat itself run the grave risk of embarrassment if the people, disregarding the appeal come out and cast their votes? Haven’t elections been held in Kashmir before? And has the holding of these elections as well as public participation in the same, in anyway compromised the ‘right to self determination movement’ or diluted the UN resolutions on Kashmir? If the answer is “No”, then why all this ‘tamasha’ over elections? The reason given by Hurriyat (G) chairman Geelani is that, “It is not the question of casting votes but the question of forgetting the sacrifices of our martyrs. People of Kashmir must not vote and should give a strong message to the world that they are not a part of the Indian system.” Though I tried very to comprehend the import of this statement, I must admit that I failed to grasp as to how exercising franchise to elect their own leaders would tantamount to “forgetting the sacrifices of our martyrs”. Even if one agrees with Geelani’s reasoning  that “We extended boycott call to stop people from making New Delhi’s rule strong in Kashmir” and decided not vote for the ‘main stream parties’, then who would form the government in Kashmir? With the Hurriyat deciding not to contest elections, the only choice is Sajjad Lone- but will the Hurriyat (G) chairman like that?