SRINAGAR: Dr. Sheikh Mustafa Kamaal Additional General Secretary National Conference while reacting to an article “ KILLING IN KASHMIR IS GIVING BIRTH TO MILITANCY” by Prem Shakar Jha in issue 3 of “ KASHMIR MIRAGE” dated June 2017 titled ‘ RAMADAN to set the record straight said in a statement to the press that the entire article is biased and flawed National Conference is shown as having been in power for 45 years which, according to the author, not only turned National Conference into the most corrupt and predatory Govt in the country but also stifled political dissent National Conference of Sher- I- Kashmir late Sheikh Mohd Abdullah has been in power for 23/24 years till date viz 1948-53; 1975-83 (with two brief spells of Governor’s rule in 1977 and 1982) , 1986-1990 and 2008-2014 . From 1953 to late sixtees the late Sheikh was imprisoned, externed and tried in a court of law on trumped up charges ( for 5 ½ years ) in the infamous Kashmiri conspiracy case. Now accusing the victim and his party of stifling political dissent is shameful the least.
From 1953 to 1975 a good 22 years Sheikh Sahab and most of his National Conference Leadership were in prison was a dark chapter in the history of J&K when GOI in collaboration with its puppet Govts in J&K squandered plan funds to buy loyalties and feather their nests. For these years development had virtually stopped. J&K saw all round development and progress from 1948-1953 and then from 1975 onwards, which is there for everybody to see. It is not fair to label National Conference as predatory and corrupt without substantiating it which has become a fasion these days. National Conference was, is and will remain the “ Heart throb” of the people all across J&K and envy of its detractors within and outside because of revolutionary and people friendly policies and programme enunciated in its “ Naya Kashmir manifesto of 1938. It is because of this that the impoverished people have achieved empowerment and contentment.
That National Conference rigged 1987- Assembly election continues to be a favorite blame of the detractors of the National Conference and exploiters of people who were “ ruling the roost” till 1947 for a good 100 years under the infamous and highly exploitive “ Treaty of Amritsar of 1846 “ between the then Maharaja Gulab Singh and the British. This oft repeated and worn –out blame of election rigging is unsubstantiated till date a good thirty years on with just one name being mentioned viz Mohammad Yusuf shah alias syed sallahudin the chief of HM Militant outfit and chief of UJC ( united Jehad council. ) There is redressal for election related complaints viz the judiciary and the ECI. The then late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was unseated form Lok sabha when election fraud against her was established by a Allahabad court at the behest of rival Raj Narain of the Janta Party. Every loser complains of rigging for face saving. If there is any substance in this allegation then the only remedy is seeking redressal from the two great institutions of the country cited above. Instead Syed Salahuddin disappeared immediately after 1987 elections to surface in Pakistan over night becoming chief of HM militant outfit and Chief of UJC ( United Jehad Council) of the militant groups. It indicates the militancy was in place in 1987 election . Also by allegation of rigging without Proof or substance is casting aspersion on the great institutions of our country the Judiciary and the ECI. Moreover, four candidates of MUF won in 1987 one of whom was syed Ali Shah Geelani from Sopore defeating his rival Hakim Habiullah of the National Conference who had been the chairman of J&K legislative council in Dr. Farooq Abdullah Government of 1983.
This article does not make even a passing mention of the unconstitutional and illegal dismissal of elected govts in 1953 ( Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah as PM) ; 1977 ( Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah as CM) ; 1984 ( Dr. Farooq Abdullah ) ; 1990 January forcing Dr. Farooq Abdullah to resign in protest of sending Jag Mohan to replace outgoing Governor General KV Krishana Rao a second time as Governor by the then Union Home Minister Mufti Mohd Syed despite reluctant President Venkate Raman on the grounds that Jag Mohan as Governor dismissed. Dr. Farooq Abdullah Govt in 1984 without any rhyme or reason with the outgoing Governor BK Nehru refusing to oblige due to constitutional constraints and despite pressure from congress coterie of Mufti Mohmmad Syed , Makhan Lal Fotedar, Arun Nehru and others.
In 1996 10 years later and at the height of militancy National Conference won by 2/3rd majority the Assembly election with fifteen seats from Jammu Division and that too on Poll plank of greater Autonomy. This completely demolishes the claim of rigging the 1987 elections.
Regarding the exodus of Kashmir Pandits suffice it to say that it was the plan of GOI involving Mufti Mohammad Sayed, Jag Mohan, LK Advani and Atal Behari Vajpayee to do so that security forces could get a free hand to target muslims without hurting a Kashmir Padit hoping, according to Jag Mohan, to end the Kashmir problem. Letter by over two dozen prominent Kashmiri. Pandits in greater Kashmir dated 22-02-1990 and reproduced this year explains it all. The activities of “ Action committee for the return of migrant “ and forum for peace and reconciliation “ headed by late Jatinder Bakashi ( retd. CE) has clearly blamed Jag Mohan for facilitating their exodus so that mass killings of kashmiri muslims can take place.
However to set right any misgiving in this behalf and propaganda by vested interests National Conference stands by its demand of “truth and reconciliation” commission be constituted by GOI to go into the entire gamut of post 1989 militancy in J&K first aired by Omar Abdullah the then MP ( LS) of National Conference on the floor of the Lok Sabha. This would stop the blame game by vested interests and clear public perception about prolonged unrest in J&K and above all unravel the truth.
Violating the sacrosanct constitutional relationship between New Delhi and Srinagar enshrined under Article 370 of the Indian constitution on the basis of the instrument of accession of Maharaja Sir Hari Singh in 1948 is the root case of the present unrest and the three decades old militancy. There is still time to stem the rot in overall National Interest and regional and world peace. This will lay the framework of reapprochment with Pakistan in keeping with the genuine hopes and aspiration of the people of J&K on both sides of Loc and in the perspective of the historic background of Kashmir problem. To the authors Shri. Prem Shanker Jha a know public figure suffice it to say twisting history is always counterproductive and harmful for the Nation. Falsehood and deceipt does not pay in the long run for truth always prevails. “ Such Ka Bhol Bhala- Jhooth Ka mo Unh Kala” a time tested urdu adage.
The then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee addressing the Nation from the Ramparts of the Red forte in Delhi on 15-08-2002 said “ we are going to hold free and fair elections in J&K later in the year ie 10th legislative Assembly” indicating to al concerned the hidden agenda of the BJP to manipulate outcome against National Conference. Failing to dislodge National Conference in 1977, 1983, 1987, 1996 and stung by the Greater Autonomy resolution of the 9th legislative Assembly passed unanimously by over 2/3rd majority Shri Vajpayee forced manipulation in 2002 election ( 10th legislative Assembly). This has proved costly to the Nation and painful for J&K which continues to suffer unprecedented atrocities every passing day. Did Vajpayee need to qualify election in J&K of 2002 Nay even mention it!.
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