B L Saraf
Election bugle is yet to be sounded in J& K but the murmuring cracks in the ranks of the separatists are loud and clear. Ghost of elections has been set at large. Some want to drive it away while others want time to take on. A section of them wants the Kashmiris to shun the elections whereas the other is not enthusiastic about the boycott call. For 23 years the Hurriyat leaders have held the line of meaningless resistance and have gone wherever the train of events has carried them, conveniently justifying their, often , contradictory stance at the places they happened to be. The fight, if in reality there was one, has well and truly gone out of the spirits. Once choicest the words, Azadi, plebiscite, self-determination have gone out of the separatist’s jargon, and have been, seamlessly, replaced by “to boycott or not to boycott the elections” narrative. So, very a few found it baffling when, once ardent fan of Geelani, Asiya Andrabi ( Dukhtraan chief) recently berated Hurriyat Leaders of every hue that they have “failed Azadi -loving people and that their hartal calls have lost sting and heat.” For a poor gullible Kashmiri, who was taken on a garden path by the dream merchants, the things have come to such a pass that he finds his predicament quite similar to that of the bard;
Inn Ankhun Ney Kya Kya Tamasha Na Dekha
Haqeekat Main Jou Dekhna Tha Na Dekha
After his release from the preventive custody, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the octogenarian Hurriyat (G ) leader, has gone to the town with the cry ‘boycott the elections. ‘ Release of Geelani and his peaceful protestations so far is, indeed, a welcome development. He has been exhorting the people, who come to hear him, to stay away from the upcoming pools. He maintains that the elections will not change the ‘ disputed nature of J&K ‘ but his grouse is that the GOI ” uses them to hoodwink the international community.” He feels the elections defame ” our movement “. Geelani goes on to say , ” In 2012 the Prime Minister of India during his August 15 speech claimed that huge turnout in Panchayat elections was a mandate in favour of democracy. So we should remain vigilant and not give them any chance to defame our movement . “Then he says” those who can’t protect our lives, property, chastity of our daughters have no right to seek votes. “Here, he may have a point.
Contrast it with what the leader of other faction of the Hurriyatt (M ) Mirwaiz Ummar Farooq has to say on the issue. He said that the election was an administrative matter in J&K and it would be premature to say anything on boycott of 2014 elections. Making his differences with Geelani clear on the issue, Mirwaiz said Polls were ” non -issue “for the Hurriyat, the election was an administrative matter and no way it can impact the Kashmir issue. Therefore, he didn’t endorse the boycott call. Another separatist leader Maulana Ababas Ansari described Geelani’s release a move” to enforce the election boycott call in Kashmir which always proves beneficial to the ruling party.”
It is a common view of both Geelani and Mirwaiz that the election is an administrative process which has been going on in the state for decades together. It has not changed the character of the ‘political’ dispute. Geelani argues so in favour of his boycott call, whereas Mirwaiz puts forth the view in opposition of the boycott call. Election in Kashmir, even Chief Minister Omar Abdullah says, is for the redressal of Bijli, Panni and Sadak matters only. They are the issues which, urgently, concern every person in the state.
Therefore a common man has a vital stake in choosing a Government that ameliorates his condition. ‘Political’ settlement of the issue can wait.
Importance of elections cannot be undermined . So, why not let a citizen exercise his choice at the hustings. How can a person call in question action or inaction of the Government that affects his rights when he has taken no part in its formation? Democracy is about ideas , and means governance by discussion . Everyone must have the space to express his views. Election grants that space and opportunity to the people to have what they deserve most. It is a way to remove injustice and inequalities . Injustices of varied nature rule supreme in the state, afflicting an excruciating pain to the most of us. Every one of us would be benefitted to know that man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible; but ruler’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary. Election is the soul of democracy. If anyone feels so he can resort to NOTA option, now available.
It is extremely painful to note that survivorship bias has crept, so strongly, into the thinking of all the separatist leaders. More so, in the case of Syed Ali Geelani. He has been grossly over estimating his chances of success. It is time that the separatist leader pays a visit to the cemeteries, spread across the Valley, where hundreds of young men / women are buried; and introspects coolly, in a dispassionate atmosphere, so that henceforth he may guard against the wanton death and destruction of the innocent Kashmiri youth which the politics of gun has brought in. It is time to reaffirm faith in the dictum ” the ballot is stronger than the bullet.” We have seen lot of bloody bullets. Now, let us give a chance to the peaceful ballots .
The author is Former Pr, District & Sessions Judge
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