This is in response to an article titled ‘ My Own Agent’authored by AIP patron and former MLA Engineer Sheikh Rasheed. Engineer Rasheedis presently a contestant for Baramulla parliamentary segment. In his articlepublished on 13th of April, EngineerRasheed in a bid to dispel the theories surrounding his affiliations and agendaand to prove himself what he calls ‘agent of his own conscience’ tries to unmask many harsh realities whataccording to him the recently concluded election has thrown up.
In a hastily dashed off emotional analysis, Engineer came up with many conflictingarguments which don’t add up. At the outset let me acknowledge Engineer Rashidis the most vociferous legislators whohas been speaking against human rights violation in Kashmir.
If the people ofJammu and Kashmir do not acknowledge this or doubt his credibility andintentions, they do so for many genuine reasons which are deep rooted in thehistory and politics of the state. Engineer Rasheed is not the only person whois practicing this brand of Politics. There have been may people before him whoclimbed up political ladder merely by adopting separatist posturing.
There is undoubtedlya large section of electorate in the valley whose crystalised political psycheis unamenable to this brand of mainstream politics given the decades ofcheating by demagogues in the guise of guides and leaders. Secondly, thepolitical history particularly the events of 1953, 1975, and 1987 has made itamply clear to the people that mainstream political space offers little scopefor representation of larger sentiment.
It is naive to expect Hurriyat leadership to appeal peopleto participate in elections or to vote for engineer Rasheed. It isn’t as simpleas he thinks no matter how sincere one may be. It would amount to legitimising electoral politics which they have beencritical of since the beginning of armed struggle in Kashmir.
The author in his write-up has used the phrase ‘Pakistan’sreal stooges’ for resistance leadership which is exactly what the government ofIndia wants world to believe. It isparadoxical that legislator who is time and often seen protesting againstslapping PSA on stone pelters is using the expression ‘ a section of professional and hired stonepelters’ for such youth which is same argument that all pro Indian politicianshave been propounding.
The author blames both Delhi and separatist leadership forpoll boycott at the same time which is conflicting and doesn’t add up. I wouldrequest esteemed author to offer a clarification on the contentious claims madein the write-up.
(The author is a teacher by profession)