The basic question in valley is Azadi

 

 

Is the eruption in Kashmir a reaction to the Jammu agitation?

No, you should not mix the two. As far as the agitation in Kashmir is concerned, it is a reaction to the land transfer. What is happening now is that they have left the Amarnath land controversy behind. The agitation has tilted towards the original, basic question of the resolution of Kashmir issue. So people here are asking for Azadi, they are asking for resolving the Kashmir issue. The Amarnath land thing is not even on their mind any more. As far as the Jammu Agitation is concerned, we have fought for 20 years and seen a lot of hardships. Let them also have a taste of it. Let them go on agitating. Here, I do not think it is taken seriously any more.

Is it the right time to resolve Kashmir issue or hold a plebiscite to know the aspirations of people?

Look, I will tell you. Plebiscite is a very valid instrument to find out where the people want to go. And it will stay valid as long as Kashmir issue remains unresolved. For me this is the reference point. It indicates that a dispute exists, it indicates that Kashmir is not an integral part of India. It is up to India now. If it fulfills the aspirations of Kashmiris, Pakistanis and Indians and reaches a trade off between the three parties, fine. If it does not, then they will have to go back to the UN resolution.

Your Achievable Nationhood document is gaining a lot of relevance. What is your take?

I am very happy. I had worked very hard on the document and I have people calling me and say that it is a very relevant document. I am sure that in days to come it will gain more relevance because apart from the prescription, we could prognosticate successfully many things which we said at that time and have happened now. I hope that I could be able to communicate to the Indian people – and I make a distinction between Indian establishment and Indian people – that the Indian establishment has lost an opportunity by not dealing with Musharraf. The more they delay, the higher the cost they will have to pay. How can the communal element be controlled?

Let me make one thing very clear, Kashmiris have nothing against Jammu. When we protested against the land transfer deal, we protested, because even the Indian Constitution, which we do not accept, prohibits land be transferred to a non-state subject. So we were not protesting against the Jammu people. We were protesting against something that is constitutionally prohibited and was still done illegally. Are not people of Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat and other places Hindus? Why are they not protesting? It is only the two and a half districts of Jammu who are protesting.

Do you see a paradigm shift in Kashmir uprising – from violence to non-violence?

It is a great thing to see people protesting peacefully. In 1990, there was similar sentiments. People were on the roads, protesting all the time. But the alibi being put forward by the Indian state was that the problem is external and is sponsored by Pakistan. But today, it is evident that the uprising is completely internal. It was internal then as well. But today, I do not think they have any excuse. Peaceful protests are an acceptable form all over the world. I think it is going to help the Kashmir cause a great deal.