M. M Khajooria
Liberal democracies are inherently handicapped in engaging and combating extremism especially of the communist and Islamist varieties. Infected by complacency and accustomed to playing by the rule book, they are unable to comprehend in time the enormity and seriousness of the terrorist threat thereby surrendering the vital initiative. That terrorism particularly the one promoted by a a state whether in the neighborhood or located in the farthest corner of the globe conducts a war with out borders, recognise no rules or international conventions of war and commit worst kind of brutalities on innocent non-combatants in pursuance of a conscious policy frame does not enter into their calculations till lot of damage has been done. The problems are further compounded by the presence in civil societies of a section of ‘intellectuals and activists’ who strive hard to find or even concoct faults in the political system, the socio-economic policies and governance paradigm with a view to justify the terrorist onslaughts. These elements consciously bat for fellow travellers of terrorists thereby facilitating their nefarious designs. They significantly serve the cause of terrorism by categorising the rogue elements into ‘hard liners’ and ‘moderates.’. They advocate a soft and friendly approach towards the ‘moderates’ crying foul whenever any action is taken against them by the authorities. This is the context in which the current pre-election confabulations by the so called ‘main stream’ political parties and ‘social activists with over ground faces of terrorism going by the nomenclature of “soft separatists” have to be viewed.
This is not a recent development. I distinctly recall my confrontation with a sizeable section of the GM Shah Cabinet on the question of dealing with Jammat-e-Islami. The ministers insisted that the moderate section of the Jammat should be allowed a free hand while strong action against the ‘hard liners’ would be in order. I argued that as long as the level of commitment to the ’cause’ was the same the perceived difference lay in tactics. In fact the soft liners posed a greater threat as they were clever enough to realise that at this point of time they were not strong enough to take on the State authorities and tactically opted for low profile till they gain enough strength to challenge the might of the State. In fact, I would prefer to tackle them on priority as they posed a well crafted and long term more vicious threat, I insisted. At one point of time the discussion turned acrimonious. To cut the long story short, I brought the matter to the notice of Arun Nehru, MoS Home, a very capable and powerful minister with total clarity on maters of national security. The issue was resolved at the political level and I was allowed to have my way. Unfortunately for this State and the country Governor Jagmohan during his first tenure not only reversed the policy but entered into an arrangement with the party that yielded them full space for unhindered activities as long as they did not oppose his rule. The Jammat made full use of this windfall, enlarged its area of influence and manufactured an army of Mujahids in the Jammat run Madarsas providing Pak ISI the highly motivated, disciplined and determined cadres who were trained, armed and let loose on the people of Kashmir. The country has paid a heavy price for this folly and continued to do so. For the last about three years the pipe lines were churning out information suggesting contacts, understandings, deals between Certain leaders of the Hinduatva variety and some soft and some not so soft separatists on undisclosed premises and terms. BJP, in the meantime established its units in Kashmir region and named office bearers. This was a significant development considering the fact that the BJP was in power in Delhi led by an aggressive and determined Prime minister. According to Amit Shah “As part of efforts to warm up to various groups, parties and individuals in the Valley, senior BJP leader J. P Nadda has met separatist-turned-politician Sajjad Gani Lone, chairman of the People’s Conference, in Srinagar…..for exploring to what extent an electoral understanding could be reached between them. “.And added that significantly, “People’s Conference sources said they have not given up on their separatist ideology and considered Kashmir a disputed territory. Lone, the sources said, has conveyed to the BJP leader that unlike during the Congress regimes, BJP did take some practical steps during its previous tenure, and said that he stood by the need for the ultimate settlement of the Kashmir issue. Lone is understood to have said that he had great regard for former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and that he had high hopes from Narendra Modi. While Vajpayee had visited Pakistan twice during his tenure as Prime Minister, during the decade-long UPA regime, his successor Manmohan Singh did not pay a single visit to the neighbouring country.”( Is BJP planning poll tie-ups with separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir?-DNA Monday, 28 July 2014 ) .In essence, pursuing the Vajpayee line on Kashmir, and talking to and visiting Pakistan were very much germane to the alliance. Interestingly Modi was dealing with Pakistan on Kashmir issue in a manner that ran counter to the letter and spirit of Vajpayee line. Moreover in the current state of Indo-Pak relations particularly after Pakistanis establishment called the Little war on Jammu-Sialkot International border neither talks with Pakistan (on Kashmir) nor a visit by Modi to that country appeared to be within the realm of possibility.
Sajjad, the youngest son of the slain Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone wields some influence in Kupwara District of north Kashmir as his fathers’ legacy which is shared by. his brother Bilal Lone of the Hurriyat Conference. and sister Shamima Lone, a practising lawyer in New Delhi. He contested the 2009 Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla but lost to the National Conference candidate. He has already met Prime Minister Modi, with whom he was hugely impressed, There is no pre-poll alliance. A post poll alliance was ,however on the cards.
Engineer Rashid a vocal anti-India sitting MLA from North Kashmir has already spilled the beans and exposed what was being whispered in political and intelligence circles. Even Ali Shah Geelani had spoken of someone meeting him on behalf of the BJP leadership, which has since be denied by the party.
The fact, however remains that the BJP has succeeded in infiltrating into the political landscape of Kashmir for the first time in the history of the State and rattled the political class as well as the separatists by a focused and aggressive media blitz. The party has fielded candidates in all the 87 constituencies of the State. It would be improper to comment on the credentials and past association of the men and women who have chosen to jump on the BJP band wagon in Kashmir. The party, however needs to be warned about even indirectly promoting any variety of separatism for the sake of electoral gains. Of course any one, be he a separatist has the right to change and join the political mainstream provided the change of heart is genuine, sincere and transparent, not tactical. It can be stated without fear of contradiction that separatists in Kashmir will remain separatists unless and until they sever the umbilical chord with Pak ISI and openly declare their identity as Indians. The ploy of swearing allegiance to the constitutions of the state and India in the name of God and thereafter calling it of no consequence as every thing was fair in love and war has been exposed too often. The concerned should therefore be wary of such elements and remember that all attempts to “use’ separatists in the past have ended up in the Indian state being taken for the proverbial ride. So please be warned.