Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani has blamed people for spoiling the 2008 uprising by taking part in the elections. We did play into the hands of murky politics and those who wanted to show to the world that people of the conflict-ridden J&K are rather comfortable with the Indian system. However people’s taking part in the elections in no way is a pointer to the above inference. The participation was partly to release  frustration caused by the 2008 uprising not reaching its logical conclusion. People had taken charge of the movement rather than following the popular Kashmiri leadership and expected much from the sacrifices made in its way. Though Amarnath land row sparked off the uprising, it took a different shape and meaning. This could well be understood from the fact that people in thousands marched towards AJK only to be fired upon by the security personnel on their way. The holy month of Ramadhan followed and the Kashmir leadership called off the protests which had spanned over a month. People at large wanted to press for their demand of a permanent solution to Kashmir conflict and wake up international community to pay heed to our miseries. But leaving them again hanging in the balance frustrated them which they showed in the elections that followed. This did surprise many as they couldn’t believe the pendulum-like nature of Kashmiris. Some termed people of Kashmir as double-minded. But they have been proven again and again wrong. If people wanted to damage the cause of 2008 uprising why would they every now and then take to streets and raise slogans against oppression? Yes a negligible entity amongst us might have participated in the elections for petty gains or just politics’ sake but the fact is that Kashmiris want a non-aligned and de-hyphenated Kashmir.

Sheikh Anjum Husain
Sofipora Pahalgam
anjum.valley@gmail.com

Lastupdate on : Sun, 4 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
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