Srinagar, Jan 24: Chairman of United Jihad Council and supreme commander of Hizbul-Mujahideen, Syed Salahuddin, on Tuesday hailed separatist leaders for raking up day to day issues of people.
 Talking to a vernacular news agency KNS over phone Salahuddin said, “Leadership must talk about these issues. New Delhi isn’t giving any charity to Kashmiris. It is importing electricity worth billions from Kashmir and people in the Valley are reeling under darkness. India is looting resources of our state. It is a good decision. They (Hurriyat leaders) must raise day-to-day issues of people.”
 He urged people to boycott the upcoming municipal polls. “For the sake of movement, I appeal people to boycott these elections, as New Delhi exploits it. But this is my personal opinion. I am chairman of a forum (UJC) and we haven’t discussed it yet. I’ll give my final comment on it next time.”
 On the role of gun been marginalized in the present world scenario, he differed saying, “Fact is that role of gun is increasing day by day. Example is Iraq and Afghanistan. NATO has accepted defeat in Iraq. Who forced NATO out of Iraq? Not talks but Mujahideen.”
 “There is no comparison between NATO and India. NATO is world’s biggest power. But now they are pleading before Pakistan to give them safe passage from Afghanistan. Give me one example in world where occupation has ended without gun. The gun has an important role in struggles,” the UJC chairman claimed.
 “It is true that after 9/11, world powers launched an assault against movements’ world over. NATO and US forces launched an assault on the borders of Pakistan,” he added.
 The Hizb supermo warned of increased attacks in Kashmir in future. “J&K will be freed soon. In 2008, 2009 and 2010 lakhs of Kashmiris came on streets. That time UJC decided to halt its actions in inhibited places so that forces don’t get an excuse to fire on unarmed protesters. We said we will carry out our actions in frontier areas only where we have been taking on forces always,” he added.
 “Decisive phase of movement has come when we have to carry attacks in streets of Kashmir. Our infrastructure is intact and we can carry attacks wherever we like,” the UJC chairman warned.
 Asked whether that means attacks would increase in coming months, he declined to comment. “I can’t comment on it as it is against policy.”
 On recent attacks in civilian areas, he said, “Outside UJC who are carrying such attacks we don’t have any information. UJC’s strategy is that no attacks would be carried where civilians will suffer. UJC’s unanimous decision is that no civilian should be targeted,” he claimed.
 About phase wise shutdown in Kashmir which he had proposed in 2010, Salahuddin, said, “Nearly 85 percent people in Kashmir are dependent on daily earnings. To keep movement alive, we have to be aware about of our shortcomings and ensure that people don’t suffer. Our patients shouldn’t suffer for medicines, kids for milk. To sustain the movement there is a need for wise decisions.”
 Asked to comment on Union Home Minister P Chidambaram’s recent talks offer to separatist leadership, he said, “In last 60 years 150 rounds of talks have been held. India was neither sincere in past nor is today. Offer of talks is just to dilute the movement. On one hand its forces are violating human rights in Kashmir and on the other they want Kashmiri leaders to hold parleys with them.”
 “Unless India won’t accept historical facts and solves Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN resolutions, talks are futile,” he asserted.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 IST