Category: Interviews

PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control minister while recollecting the measures taken by the state establishment during September’s catastrophic floods nullified the reports that breach of traditional Kandzal embankment would have saved the summer capital during the catastrophic floods Sham Lal Sharma while talking to KNS took strong exception to the re- ports that inordinate delay by the state government to breach traditional Kan- dzal embankment of river Jhelum led to submergence of the Srinagar city during recent floods. He remarked that gauge at Sangam was already un- der the flood waters and that it was for the first time witnessed in the history of the region that Jehlum breached through both the sides “Kandizal would not have helped at that time as the water was flowing in most un- expected quantity and the place itself was under the 25ft of flood waters.

We have the capacity of 40 thousand cusecs and we got around three lakh and twenty thousand cusecs of water. How Kandizal could had helped us, it wasn’t a mere flood it was a disaster” In a brief chat with Kashmir News Service (KNS), Sham Lal Sharma stated that water on September 3 had crossed the danger level in Jehlum at three different places and that at zero Bridge of the summer capital- the situ- ation was already alarming. “Between the night of 3-4 September at 11.30, I received a call from Chief Engineer Irrigation- informing me that the situ- ation is turning turbulent near Zero Bridge. I asked him to inform DC, SSP and Div Com so that alert to the peo- ple living in adjoining areas could be sounded. I reached the spot at 12 in the night. The waters were flowing with a dreadful speed.” Sharma recalled. He added that the low lying areas of Sri nagar city including Jawaharnagar, Raj Bagh, Lasjan and other areas were warned to move out of their houses.

Sharma said that he was personally telephoned by some bureaucrats of the state establishment  urging him not to panic the locals as floods would never occur in the city. “I told them that the situation is indeed alarming as the waters have crossed the danger mark in the river.” The minister added that CM arrived near zero bridge at 7.30 in the morn- ing and along with the senior officers of the state administration, a meeting at Police Control Room (PCR) Srinagar was convened at 9 in the morn- ing. “After the meeting, myself and the chief minister went to take the outer view of the city.

There are already water of 3ft present in Barzulla area and Panthachowk was turning inundated as the rains didn’t stop. I told the chief minister that it seems that the rains would not stop and speedy measures need to be taken on priority.” Sharma maintained further that on September 5, the situation turned alarming in the Jammu region of the state as the flash floods created hav- oc in various areas “ We travelled to Jammu and took stock of the situation there.”

However, the minister remarked that Wullar saved north Kashmir and the intake capacity of the lake increased due to the recent dredging. He added that the area of the lake is 190 sq Kms and high quantity of wa- ter was drifted towards the lake which saved the north Kashmir region of the state. “Had it not been wullar, north Kashmir would have been drowned.”

 

National Conference General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar in an exclusive interview to The Kashmir Magazine elaborated in detail the reasons for NC’s defeat in Parliament polls and strategy the party is adopting to face the tough times ahead.

Excerpts from the Interview

Q: What about the preparations of National Conference vis-à-vis the upcoming assembly elections?

A: NC is very much prepared for the battle and we have kept our cadre ready to accept the challenge. The most important thing for the National Conference is to remain connected to its cadre as the party cadre is the only strength and courage for NC. We are holding the meeting at Mohala, Block levels and are listening to the suggestions being put forth by the party activists and workers.

Q: NC lost all the seats of valley during the recently held Lok Sabha polls. What were the reasons for this terrible rout?

A: There are several reasons for our defeat and not just the one. I can say that several reasons caused our defeat. I can only say that the party network needs to be strengthened at grass root levels. Earlier there used to be the strong bond between the party and its workers. That connection was somehow lost due to which we suffered. Now we are striving to address that issue and we are working on it.

Q: Don’t you think that cross voting was another major reason for NC’s defeat during parliamentary elections?

A: Yes, that really surprised us all. We were hoping that Congress votes would get transferred in our favor but that didn’t happen, neither in South Kashmir and nor in North Kashmir. But we can say that other factors also acted as the spoilsport. There were issues with the electricity and people were disgruntled with the dues. There were the reports of the scarcity of ration and some internal issues within the National Conference. Also during the parliament poll campaign, we made it Modi vs Rahul issue rather than projecting our own achievements and now we know what the outcome was.

Q: How much was the party affected due to the presence of Dr Farooq Abdullah at New Delhi during the past five years?

A: Yes, he is a teacher and a guide for the party leaders and workers. He kept on guiding us on various subtle issues. Now due to his health conditions he could not spend much time with the party affairs. But now Omar Sahib is boosting the morale of the party and his hard work is yielding results.

Q: How do you view your fight against the PDP that has swept all the three seats of valley during parliament polls held recently?

A: Against PDP we don’t have any fight. I mean you cannot compare a movement with few people who are the creation of agencies to foil NC’s pro-Kashmir agenda. Agencies choose Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as he has served as the Indian Home Minister and the agencies believe him as pro-Indian. He was given the task to damage the NC agenda and after we passed the autonomy resolution in assembly, PDP was brought into limelight. NC is the party of people and we have been struggling for Kashmir since 1931.

Q: It is being accused at present that NC lost its ideology and undermined the principles for which party’s foundation was laid by Shiekh Mohammad Abdullah?

A: No, not at all. We are treading the path of Sher-e-Kashmir. Situations change and we had to change with the time. There are various forces that are hell-bent upon damaging the party but despite the repeated attempts they could not shake a single stone of this strong building.

Q: NC advocates for Autonomy as the solution for Kashmir issue but is ready to accept any solution better than autonomy. If it is plebiscite or Rai Shumari, will you accept?

A: Yes¸ we will accept Rai Shumari as the solution of Kashmir. Why not? How can we reject it? If people of Kashmir demand and accept this as the solution for the long pending Kashmir issue, we have no objection in accepting it as the Peoples’ verdict.

 

Stating that freedom movements could not be crushed with a tough attitude nor can people be oppressed for long under the grip of armed forces, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chairman, Yasin Malik told a television channel that Kashmiris are the real stakeholder in the final resolution of Kashmir issue and Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot dislodge the sentiment. He faced a volley of questions during a TV programme AAP KI ADALAT from host Rajat Sharma and the audience on India TV. Here is the full transcript of the show:

Rajat Sharma: When Narendra Modi became Prime Minister he invited Nawaz Sharief to India and you spoiled the peace process?

Yasin Malik: We did not spoil the peace process but made efforts to strengthen it. All those dignitaries including Prime Minister, Foreign Minister or Foreign Secretary who came from Pakistan to India have been talking to Kashmiris and Indian state facilitated the process.

Rajat Sharma: The system has changed. Nawaz Sharief during his visit to New Delhi did not invite you for talks?

Yasin Malik: There has been shift in the policy not in system.  The system has got a new captain; this is the same BJP government which talked with pro freedom camp and Government of Pakistan. The last BJP government openly said we are talking on Kashmir. The new captain of the BJP led government (Narendra Modi) has made it categorically clear that he does not want to talk on Kashmir…

Rajat Sharma: Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not say he does not want to talk on Kashmir but maintained separatists like you don’t have any role in the talks?

Yasin Malik: Is Narendra Modi saying that seven Prime Ministers who preceded him in last 24 years adopted wrong policies and only he is taking right decision?

Rajat Sharma: Narendra Modi wants to convey to Pakistan leadership that it cannot talk with Yasin Malik and India at the same time, and that there is shift in the policy?

Yasin Malik:  Time has changed for Narendra Modi Ji as it is his personal ideology. He wants to move forward with this ideology. I want to convey to Modi Ji that “Hum Log Bhi Deewane Hain, Aap Agar Zulam Karna Chahtay Ho Jee Bhar Ke Karoo….. (We are also dedicatedly pursuing our goal. And we want to convey to Modi Ji that if he wants to use oppressive tactics, let him do it. As rightly said by an Urdu poet “Idhar Aa Sitamghar Hunar Aazma, Tu Teer Aazma Hum Jigar Aazmayain (come on o tyrant, do whatever you can…you shower your arrows on us and we will bear them on our chests.”

Rajat Sharma: Do you think it is right that Indian High Commissioner talks to those people in Balochistan who propagate revolution there?

Yasin Malik: There is problem in many states in India too and we never talked about them. Who took Kashmir dispute to United Nations? It was none other than India. Who opened the offices of United Nations in Srinagar and other side of Line of Control: The then Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru took the Kashmir dispute to international community and UN passed resolutions on Kashmir.

Rajat Sharma: Yasin Sahib….but Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of India now?

Yasin Malik: Narendra Modi has been chosen by people of India and I don’t have any objection to it. He has taken a decision to adopt hard-line approach on Kashmir. We have understood the shift in the policy and have geared up to strengthen our movement too.

Rajat Sharma: Modi has not adopted hard-line approach…He wants the love letters to Pakistan should stop?

Yasin Malik: In 2003 I wrote a joint love letter to heads of state of Pakistan and Indian Prime Minister Atal Bijari Vajpayee.  He (Vajpayee) wrote an article stating ‘we should ignore beaten tracks and find out new innovative ways to resolve the Kashmir issue.’

Rajat Sharma: You talk about Nehru and Vajpayee and forget that a hard man is heading India this time?

Yasin Malik: I am trying to convey the same thing that Modi by adopting hard-line approach thinks he can crush the ongoing Kashmir movement. History stands testimony to the fact that no issue or movement in the world has been crushed by military might.

Rajat Sharma: Pakistan attacks India office in Afghanistan, gives clean chit to Hafiz Sayeed before talks. Shall India still talk with Pakistan? Despite India’s objections, Pakistan went ahead with his meeting with separatists. India has to make clear that what used to happen in past 24 years won’t continue now?

Yasin Malik: It is a testing time for us. Now that Modi has come, hard times may be waiting for us but we are revolutionaries and we by Allah’s grace will survive and pass this test too.

Rajat Sharma: But Modi says there is good day ahead of India?

Yasin Malik: We have never cursed India as there are many people who support our movement. I want to tell Modi that such an atmosphere is being created which can be summed up in two stanzas from Faiz Ahmad Faiz  “Nisar Teri Galiyoon Pay Aay Watan Ke Jahan Chale Hai Rasm Ke Koi Na Sar Utha Key Na Chalay, Jo Koi Chahney Wala Tawaaf Ko Niklay, Nazar Bacha Ke Chaley, Jism o Jaan Bacha Kar Chaley’’ (Oh my nation! Be sacrificed on your streets where a ritual has started that no one should walk on these streets with his head high. And if anyone still wants to walk on these lanes, he should keep eyes down and save his life and honour). He (Modi) can give good governance to India but cannot crush our movement by his hard-line approach.

Rajat Sharma: The Pakistani High Commissioner invited you: Tum Ne Pukara to Hum Chaley Aaye (you called us and we are there)

Yasin Malik: We were invited by India Prime Minister, Hum Chalay Aaye (we came)…..we came…..Atal Bihari Vajpayee also invited the Hurriyat when it was united through his interlocutor RK Mishra. Credit should be given to Kashmiris that whenever peace process started they participated and welcomed it.

Rajat Sharma: You live, eat and breathe in India, but you always go to Pakistan for talks?

Yasin Malik:  We talk to both the countries ……We always tell them that since 1947 Kashmiris have been suffering due to unresolved dispute. I am the only Muslim leader who met with RSS leader for five hours for resolving the dispute.

Rajat Sharma; You talk with the Pakistan which gave safe passage to Osama Bin Laden?

Yasin Malik: When we talk with India you have no objection but when Pakistan which you consider as stakeholder to the dispute, invites us, you label us as their agents. Same way tomorrow Pakistani journalists will also label us as Indian agents when we talk with Indian leadership.

Rajat Sharma: India never supports terrorism …Osama Bin Laden was killed in Pakistan, Dawood Ibrahim lives in Karachi, Hafiz Sayeed roams in Lahore. These are internationally recognized terrorists.

Yasin Malik: These issues are related to other issues of India with Pakistan. If India is concerned over these issues, why has it initiated dialogue with Pakistan? India cancelled the talks with Pakistan after it objected to its meeting with separatists. India should openly raise these issues?

Rajat Sharma: People of India feel pained when you talk with Pakistanis whose soldiers behead their Indian counterparts like Khemraj?

Yasin Malik: We also feel pained over such issues but if it is a fact why do you talk with Pakistan. Why did you call Pakistani Prime Minister to India?

Rajat Sharma: When Pakistan says it provides diplomatic and moral support to you then India by inviting its head wants to convey to stop such activities?

Yasin Malik:  Representatives of United States, Britain and European Union meet pro freedom camp. Even India engaged them to talk with separatists. Atal Bihari Vajpayee initiated talks with Pakistan by stating at Minar-e-Pakistan that he wants to resolve Kashmir during his lifetime. Vajpayee later talked to Kashmiris. We started armed struggle in Kashmir against human rights violations. In a country where Mahatma Gandhi propagated that all issues can be resolved through peace, I could not find the soul of Gandhi and we started the armed struggle. Later when I was arrested, India engaged US, Britain and civil society, urging us to start a peaceful movement. My 600 activists were killed and I was lodged in jails 300 times. I lost hearing in my right ear due to interrogation; six attempts were made on my life. After the ceasefire the state terrorism continued to crush our peaceful movement.

In 2008 there was a transition from violent movement to non violent movement. What we received is 82 bodies in 2008, 45 in 2009 and 128 in 2010….military might was used to crush our movement, Are you not pushing Kashmiris to start an armed struggle?

Rajat Sharma: Why do you forget what Pakistan is doing in India? It sends Ajmal Kasab to kill people in Mumbai?

Yasin Malik: It is on record that I and all the separatists showed concern over the brutal killings in Mumbai. India seems to be confused. Ministry of External Affairs termed Pakistan as stakeholder to the dispute. When India wants to talk, it changes its vocabulary? Movement of Kashmiris is indigenous and people of Jammu Kashmir want right to self-determination to decide whether they want to stay with India, Pakistan or remain independent.

Rajat Sharma: Do you believe that when Pakistan cannot resolve its own issues, how can it resolve Kashmir?

Yasin Malik: Pakistan is a sovereign country. It has its own issues. I cannot interfere in its internal affairs. I only want to resolve Kashmir issue according to aspirations of Kashmiris. India terms Kashmir as its integral part, and Pakistan calls it its jugular vein. Our stand on this is clear. We say let Kashmiris decide their future. Let them decide whether they want to accede to Pakistan or to India or want to remain as an independent nation. Modi’s message is very clear. He is not going to give Kashmiri freedom camp any diplomatic or political space.

Rajat Sharma: But your heart seems to be with Pakistan. 

A big laugh………..

Yasin Malik: Everybody has his belief. Modi got majority and came in his own colour.  We have a political belief that we want Azadi. Kashmiri people have offered unflinching sacrifices for the movement.

Rajat Sharma: Your actions and words don’t match: You claim to propagate Gandhi’s policy but have friends like Hafiz Sayeed and do what Jamat-ul_Dawah and Jamaat Islami tell you to do?

Yasin Malik: We declared ceasefire in 1994. I challenge you to cite one instance in which JKLF propagated violence since then despite lots of provocations.

Rajat Sharma: On February 11, 2013, you sat on hunger strike against the hanging of Afzal Guru in Islamabad and Hafiz Sayeed shared stage with you?

Yasin Malik: It was former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who, after the Ramzan ceasefire in November, 2000, had allowed Kashmiri separatist leaders to go to Pakistan to meet resistance and militant leaders on other side, so that an atmosphere for peaceful dialogue could be created. After Vajpayee government left, I had an official meeting with the then PM Dr Manmohan Singh in 2006 in which I told him that the government should involve militant leadership in peace talks. The PM said, he needed our help in this regard. I went to the United States, and when the earthquake shook Pak administered Kashmir, I went there with relief goods. It was then that I visited the Lashkar-e-Toiba camp in Mureidkay where Hafiz Sayeed had organized a felicitation event. I addressed the Lashkar cadres there. I told them that Islam teaches us to give peace a chance. The Indian media did not report and created havoc on the meeting.

In February, 2013, I was in Pakistan when my wife gave birth to my daughter. What is the concept of hunger strike; it is a non-violent way of protesting. There were civil society members and Hafiz Sayeed also came there. I had not invited anybody.

Rajat Sharma: Audience wants to know that when Mumbai was attacked why not you organised hunger strike against Hafiz Sayeed

Yasin Malik: When Gandhiji fought against British rule, even some British people supported him. If I ask you when lakhs of Kashmiris including children were killed, there are graveyards of martyrs in every nook and corner of Kashmir why you (Indian people) remained silent?

Rajat Sharma: Should anyone talk with Hafiz Sayeed?

Yasin Malik: My stand is clear…..it is not that Laskhar-e-Toiba should talk on Kashmir. I addressed the US State Department and White House that we should take on board Kashmiri militant leadership (United Jihad Council ) led by Syed Salahuddin to create peaceful atmosphere for genuine talks. When I talked to Hafiz Sayeed, I tried to tell him that when two countries are talking with each other, a peaceful atmosphere needs to be created.

Question from a woman among audience: “Do you believe in the Indian stand that Hafiz Sayeed orchestrated 26/11 attack?”

Yasin Malik: A senior journalist of India also met Hafiz Sayeed. I was jailed after my return and my passport was also impounded. If he had not gone without knowledge of India government he should have faced the same action as I faced.

Rajat Sharma: Kashmiri Pandits blame you for their exodus?

Yasin Malik: I am ready to face the charges in any public court. If somebody levels allegations on anyone, there should be argument or evidence to prove those allegations.

Rajat Sharma: Kashmiri Pandits allege that Bita Karatey has confessed that he killed 40 Kashmiri Pandits on your orders.

Yasin Malik: On 19 January, 1990 Pandits left Kashmir. There is a perception that of genocide of Kashmir Pandits. Please give me the list of those killed. I am ready to participate in this program, let Kashmiri Pandits come up with that list.

Rajat Sharma: Do you believe that Hafiz Sayeed and Salahuddin can help in peace process?

Yasin Malik: Even after fighting three wars with Pakistan including Kargil war and skirmishes on border, India still tries to resolve the dispute through dialogue. In conflicts there are attempts to bring all parties on dialogue table, so that nobody can sabotage the process.

Rajat Sharma: People believe Hafiz Sayeed should be in Indian jail than on dialogue table?

Yasin Malik: My stand is that engagement of Kashmiri leadership in the dialogue is important and necessary. I only went to Mureedkay camp to seek cooperation of Hafiz Sayeed during the India-Pakistan peace process.

Rajat Sharma: Do you believe that Hafiz Sayeed should get punishment for his crime and is his prosecution going on in a right way in Pakistan?

Yasin Malik: India must be aware about the trial going on in Pakistan and only it can comment on it.

Question from a woman among audience: “I want to tell that people living on both sides of border that have relatives on either side, want peace. I want to know why more people don’t take note of the fact that they used to access someone who had a violent way of life and this person is made a turnaround, talks about peace and quotes from Faiz Ahmad Faiz and believes in Mahatma Gandhi, why are people not willing to listen to a person.

Yasin Malik: The behaviour of Indian state, civil society, writers and other people about Kashmir, continues to refuse to honour Kashmiri peaceful movement. Rhetoric and oppressive measures taken give a negative message to youth in Kashmir. This gives a message to the youth of Kashmir that peaceful struggle will yield them nothing and hence will push them towards the armed struggle. When Kashmiris made a transition from armed struggle to non-violent movement there were questions in Kashmir whether it was a right or wrong decision. We trained Kashmiri youth for non-violent movement. Its glaring example is 2008 when there was collective transition. The response from the Indian civil society and audience here, is seemingly pointing to Kashmiris that Kashmir can be resolved through armed resistance and not through non-violent movement.  It is not a good message.

Rajat Sharma:  Are Kashmiri people are with you?

Yasin Malik: I won’t claim to be a big leader, but I want to maintain that Kashmiris want peaceful resolution of the issue.

Rajat Sharma: When people of Kashmir are with you why you don’t contest elections?

Yasin Malik: We made an effort in 1987 and we saw its consequences ….we saw Red 16 interrogation centre and jail. If Indian audience have any doubt that people of Kashmir are not with the freedom movement, then I pose a question to Rajatji and India TV team to forget about Indian parliament or assembly election and ask Mehbooba Mufti, Mufti Sayeed, Omar Abdullah, Congress and other pro India parties and leaders to choose any constituency and conduct private elections to determine who represents the aspirations of the people of Jammu Kashmir, we will participate in it and whole world will witness that who represents the people of Jammu Kashmir .

Rajat Sharma: Elections are scheduled to be held later this year. Why don’t you participate in the elections and form your own government?

Yasin Malik: Many elections were held in Kashmir since 1947 and one of the senior Gandhian leader Jay Prakash Narayan wrote an article in Hindustan Times titled “rethinking” in 1962, and he said: “my countrymen may accuse my patriotic credentials but I want to tell them that all Kashmir elections are rigged and manipulated. We have made many pledges to the people of Jammu Kashmir that they will be given a free chance to decide their future and we are yet to fulfil these promises.”

( TRANSCRIPT PROVIDED BY JKLF)

By M.ASLAM

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on July 20 disclosed that he had met the All India Congress Committee (AICC) chairperson Sonia Gandhi 10-days ago conveying her that NC will not forge any pre-poll alliance with the state Congress 5 for the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

Omar maintained further that NC patron and his father Dr Farooq Abdullah will not contest the assembly elections as his health does not allow him to fight the elctions. In an exclusive chat with Kashmir Magazine, the chief minister stated that he had a detailed meeting with Ms Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi and had categorically told her that NC in no way will forge alliance with the Congress for the forthcoming assembly polls.

“The recent parliament polls suggested us that forging alliance with the Congress in no way will benefit NC. It is because the Congress votes in Valley during the recent parliamentary elections got transferred to PDP in- stead of National Conference its coalition partner,” Omar revealed to KNS. “I during my meet with Ms Gandhi, told her that I am not going to formally announce that Congress and NC is contesting upcoming assembly polls separately as I didn’t want to take political benefits out of that announcement,” Omar maintained. When asked whether the government would continue to function despite the coalition partners deciding to end alliance, chief min- ister maintained that the decision will have no affect on the functioning of the government and that the government will continue to run till the elections in the state are announced. “We have to understand that this coalition came into existence after the elections.

There will be no impact on the government function- ing and the coalition will continue to function till the assembly elections are announced in the state. Besides preparing for the coming elections, we will continue to run the state of affairs in Jammu and Kashmir. Later we will present services before the people of Jammu and Kashmir.” Maintaining that NC from the day one was not willing to contest assembly elections jointly with the state Congress, Omar stated that if NC had any intension of entering into the pre poll pact with Congress, it would not have issued the list of the candidates in the recent past. “We issued the 1st list of the candidates prior to the announcement of Congress over not forging alliance with NC. We even nominated the candidates for the Jammu region.

The fact is that I already had informed Congress that keeping the experience of parliament elections in view, NC is not going to join hands with it for the assembly polls.” Omar remarked further that an ‘unusual’ hype was given to the issue with the state Congress leaders saying no to pre-poll. “My party leaders did not go to press and issued detailed state- ments over the issue. Congress did. Let they fight alone and we will fight alone.” The chief minister stated that during the recently held parliamentary polls in Jammu and Kashmir, national conference transferred the votes in the favor of Congress at Jammu region but contrary was witnessed in valley. “It is quite obvious; NC didn’t get the Con- gress votes in valley.

If votes would have been transferred, the situation today would have been different,” Omar told. Omar, however, refused to comment over the reports that the former chief minister and a senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad met the PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. “I can- not comment anything over the issue,” said Omar. He added that if alliance ahead of polls would have been forged with the Congress, the same would have caused much damage to NC. “If the things of the past would have been repeated in the assembly elections, the same could have caused damage. Now both the parties will contest the elections separately.

Let us see who performs better. Good thing about the decision is that we would not witness further dam- age.” About the reports that NC president and patron Dr Farooq Abdullah is not contesting the forthcoming assembly elections in the state, Omar maintained that the health condition of his father is not allowing him to contest the assembly elections. “No Dr Sahib is not contesting this time. His health is not allowing him to contest the polls.” When asked about the reports that his party remains indecisive over the constituency where from he would contest, Omar stated that the list is coming to fore in the near future and that the people would come to know where from he would fight. “We should wait till the list comes out; only then people will come to know where from I am fighting.”

 

M Aslam Bhat 

Q: You recently called for anti-Israel protests in Kashmir and said that there is no difference be- tween Kashmir and Palestine as far as the atroci- ties and genocide of innocent people is concerned. It is not understandable how Gaza is like Kashmir? 

A: It is quite understandable that there is absolutely no difference between Palestine and Kashmir. Both the regions are under illegal occupation. Jews were under a proper plan set- tled in Palestine so that West could control the Muslim world and now genocide against the Muslims is carried out with the sole objective to suppress the just voice of the innocents. Had it been the government of Al-Ikhwan in Egypt, Israel would have never dared to attack Gaza.

Al-Ikhwan people were brave hearts and their priority was to safeguard the interests of  Ummah but their regime was crushed and Fa-tah was installed on the chair. Fatah is an offshoot of Israel. The move was made just to bring Egypt under control of the western powers so that the region could not become a hiding place for the Palestinian Mujahideen. In Kashmir, the forces were settled without any legitimacy. Otherwise, Kashmir was the natural part of Pakistan. In 1947, Kashmir had 85 percent Muslims; 750 miles of borders were with the Pakistan. We had rivers that flow towards that country.

Q: What is your opinion about the announcement of Caliphate in Iraq and Al-Baghdadi as a Caliph?

A: Nothing can be said about this situation. We have to see whether those persons who claim to have established the ca- liphate in Iraq are that much qualified or not. We must under- stand that the present status of the caliphate must meet the requirements for the same we have witnessed the four pious caliphs of Islam in the past.

As far as our stand is concerned, we will keep wait and watch policy vis-à-vis the situation in Iraq. If they are in real terms meet the requirements of the caliphate establishment. Later, it will be their principle to strive for the rights of the oppressed Muslim world. If you read Quran you will find what is written there. Quran clearly says in Surah Nisa ‘And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Al- lah and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, “Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and ap- point for us from Yourself a protec- tor and appoint for us from Your- self a helper?”

Q: What would be your strategy vis-à-vis the coming elections in Jammu and Kashmir?

A: As far as the polls are concerned, our strategy is clear. The people at present who are asking for the votes in no way deserve the same. They are the looters and legitimize the il- legal occupation. Voters here have no reason to vote. We have adopted this stand after the elections of 1987 when the losers were declared win- ners and vice-versa.

When Huriyat Conference was constituted in 1993, its constitution clearly says that elections are unacceptable in JK and that no person associated with the amalgam will take part in the fray. In 1996, there were mainly three active players in the election boycott campaign. It was me, Late Abdul Gani Lone and Mohammad Yasin Malik. Other parties of the Huriyat used to send their constituents. In the same way, there must be unanimous approach by the pro- freedom camp about the election boycott campaign.

I want all the resistance parties to extend a call for complete boycott of elections. We have seen earlier that some parties termed it as a non-issue, then the administrative mater and later when they saw people in large number boycotting the polls, they too issued a boycott call.

Q: There is a perception that boycott benefits a particular mainstream political party. What is your opinion about it?

A: No, this assessment is not based on facts. This is absolutely absurd. We have seen that recently when we launched Boycott cam- paign, it didn’t benefit the particular party, rather PDP got anti-NC votes. The votes were not actually in PDP’s favor.

Q: You in a recent interview said that for Kashmir resolution you will seek help even from Hafiz Sayeed. Could you elaborate that?

A: I was quoted wrongly. I didn’t ask for Hafiz Sayeed’s help as was reported. I stated that it is the moral responsibility of every Pakistani citizen to raise voice for Kashmir. Isn’t that a policy of Pakistan? Hafiz Sayeed is also a Pakistani cit- izen and in that capacity it is also his moral duty to support Kashmir cause.

Q: It is being observed at present on ground that there is no coordination between the pro-freedom groups of valley. Are there any chances of unity among pro freedom groups?

A: There are sometimes the serious issues that need immediate reaction. We cannot discuss that prior to that incident. We keep on discussing the issue. We may miss the chance to react.

Q: What is your stand on dialogue if UN resolutions are not implemented?

A: Our stand is clear. We want India to fulfill its promises it made to the people of Kashmir in the United Nations. If the same are not implemented, then the dialogue over the issue is conditional. India, Pakistan and resistance leadership of Kash- mir must sit together and the same be done under the purview of United Nations or any third friendly country.

And later by consensus, if Independent status of Kashmir emerges as a solution, we are ready to accept that also. But at the same time, any solution is not acceptable of Kashmir that would be under the purview of Indian constitution.

Q: During the participation of Pak premier in the oath ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Kashmir word was skipped. How do you view that?

A: We cannot say that there is any change of strategy in Pakistan’s approach vis-à-vis Kashmir. We know that Pakistan right from the day one is striving for Kashmir cause. This could be there strategy but we cannot say that they have changed their stand.

Q: There are the reports that GOI is initiating track- II dialogue with the separatists. What is your stand?

A: No person has approached us. We have no such information. We have already made it clear that Kashmir is not an issue between India and Pakistan. We cannot accept any  ready made solution of Kashmir.

 

In 2009, after finishing her 12th standard exams, Farah Tanki, a young girl from Nishat locality, moved to Delhi for vacations where one of her cousin suggested her to take up cake baking classes. She did her diploma in cake decoration at an institute and soon returned to Kashmir with a renewed interest in cakes, and opted to study Home Science in her graduation.

The fever of baking cakes and giving them distinctly attractive shapes and designs gripped Farah. Soon she started making them for her friends, family members and relatives.

“But I had never thought that my hobby will turn into a full-fledged profession for me,” she says.

Farah is a tall girl sporting blonde hair. She belongs to a well to do business family from Nishat. Her father runs a handicraft business while her elder brother is a pilot. When she was pursuing graduation, Farah started receiving orders from her friends and relatives, especially on birthdays or weddings.

“I devoted my initial three years to learning and gaining expertise in the field. But the kind of appreciation I received from people was a morale booster for me, making me think that I should devote full time to it,” she explains.

I met Farah at a local convention centre in Srinagar where she was invited as a young entrepreneur. She had prepared a chocolate cake for the event, which was beautifully decorated with crumbs of chocolate and biscuits. The design of the cake impressed the chief guest, the district development commissioner of Kashmir, so much that he personally congratulated her.

“It took me six hours to prepare that cake. It requires a lot of sweating,” she quipped.

Farah is now pursuing her masters in dietetics and nutritional sciences from University of Kashmir and has grown into the professional, receiving numerous orders from people and some big business houses too. She has no business unit or a workshop. Her kitchen makes up has been the factory of her cakes over last five years.

“My customers include big business bigwigs like Trumboo’s and even Mirwaiz Umar Farooq,” she claims, “Recently I made a cake about eight kilo for the Indian Air Force who were celebrating their 81st anniversary.”

Her business is spread by the word of mouth. One impressed customer or eater attracts more customers. If people have to place their orders, they have to call Farah two or three days prior to the event or the function. The cost of her pastry cakes depends on the size, type and the designs.

“It starts from Rs 400 to Rs 1200 a kg,” she says.

Ambience and food, they say, go hand in hand. But most of the time we end up dejected, swayed as we are by the décor and style. But as the number of cake lovers is growing, so are the designs of Farah.

“Now for the first time, I am planning to introduce ‘Photo Cakes’ in Kashmir. They are generally made on birthdays with a sketch pasted on the cake,” she explains, “Previously I had included the logos of football teams and many cartoon designs. I keep on experimenting and learning from the mistakes of past. It has been a good experience for me and my business,” she says.

Some of her cakes are 8-15 inch thick. Double cakes feature one layer of yellow and one layer of milky chocolate. She bakes chocolate cake, truffle, German cake, fresh fruit, cheese cakes, red velvet, blueberry cakes, mousse cake and fondant cakes.

“My friend has made us proud with her achievement and without any experience or family background. She has carved out a niche for herself,” her friend Novneen Malik chips in between our conversation, “Her customer base has reached to a point what every business person dreams of.”

“She is our cake queen,” Novneen chuckles.

Although her orders revolve around mostly Eid or the wedding functions, she says she baked 25 cakes in just two days on last Eid.

“This is business and we must not refuse orders from customers. I worked hard and didn’t upset my customers. Sometimes I take help of my family members as I don’t have any employees to fulfil the demand,” she says.

About her plans to expand her business, Farah is optimistic of opening a café in future in Srinagar city to cater to the greater demands of her customers.

“Mom and dad have been very supportive throughout. I was allowed to do whatever I wanted to do. Normally in Kashmir our parents would suggest to take up medical or engineering as a career but my parents didn’t say anything when I opted for home science,” Farah says.

 SHAFAT FAROOQ   AUTHINT MAIL

Doctor, entrepreneur, social activist, artist, Amit Wanchoo, a man of multiple aptitudes, has been able to bridge and blend these capabilities into a successful career traversing through a difficult terrain. He is the founder and CEO of SPACE Communications, the first Event and Sports Management Company in Jammu and Kashmir. Active in family-run pharmaceutical company, Eaton Laboratories and having the distinction of being a Paul Harris Fellow, Commonwealth fellow and SIP fellow, he as the founder and youngest president of Rotary Club in Kashmir initiated a wide range of social initiatives in sectors like health, tourism, literacy, art and culture.  GK correspondent Mudasir Yaqoob caught up with the change maker 

Dr. Amit Wanchoo recently and talked to him. Excerpts

Most memorable moment from your college days?
As the only Kashmiri Pandit boy in the college, I enjoyed being among the friends and teachers at SKIMS JVC. I remember how in final Biochemistry viva, an examiner from outside university was taken to task for asking me an irrelevant question. My HOD Samina madam reacted sharply to his statement. She was so furious with him and didn’t allow him to ask any other question. Finally, we had the viva but the strength that she gave me is till date with me. So, the kind of love and support my friends and teachers have showered on me in school and college has made my emotional bonding with my motherland very strong.

How did the transition from medicine to business happen?
I was posted in radiation oncology where we treat cancer patients. One night, a young patient with complicacies came to hospital who needed proper care. Since no bed was available, the only way out was private room.  I intervened and asked the officials to open the door of special room and allow patient to go inside till we stabilized him but they refused. Meanwhile, an influential patient suffering from minor health problem came and was allotted that room. It shook my conscious. I fought for the poor patient and succeeded in getting him that room till we stabilized him and saved his life. Next morning I resigned from the job as I knew I could not deliver in government sector and started my own enterprise.

Tell us about the journey of SPACE Communications?
I started working at the age of 16 when I was in 10th class. However, SPACE Communications was born in a Pediatric class of SKIMS, which was one of the boring classes and we would do all kinds of masti there. SPACE means Surely Pure And Complete Entertainers. The initial days involved all kinds of events but finally in 2008, I conceived the idea of an Event and Sports Management Company. It was very difficult in the initial phase to make people understand this concept. However, I am thankful to Bilal Bhat (than GM DIC, Srinagar) and Farooq Shah (than Director Tourism Kashmir) for encouraging me and giving me full support to make this venture successful. They would always say that we can see a vibrant entrepreneur in you, do your best. Today the result is in front of you. I am happy to see that what I started lots of youngsters are following event management as a profession now.

Event management was a risky business initiative, how did you manage to make it successful?
Success depends on team work. We have 10 member core team which works on planning, strategy and diversification supported by field team of 88 who deliver it on ground and 3000 artists. We made event management a diverse sector and have the credit of doing destination weddings, engagements, birthdays, award functions, medical conferences, music festivals, religious functions, tourism promotions, sports events.

What are the expansion plans of SPACE Communications and how will it benefit the state?
We are fortunate enough to have our offices and affiliates at all major cities in India and abroad. At present the new ventures include line production for films, TV serials, political management services and PR activities. All these initiatives will benefit the state because promoting from within the state rather than hiring outside executives has always been my preference and touch wood till now it has worked out nicely.

Right now you are a fellow with Harvard Kennedy School, what is it all about?
In this fellowship, emerging leaders were selected from all around the world and till now it has been a great experience. I have taken five majors in Public Policy Tourism Trends, Healthcare, Entertainment, Political Management and Entrepreneurship. I will be working with Harvard, Oxford and NUS Singapore to have the US, European and Asian perspective of these policies. 
And, after the course?
After the course I will be joining the advisory panel in United Nations, UNICEF, WHO or UNDP. Final goal is to devise an effective and progressive public policy in the field of health, business, tourism and social sector in my state of Jammu and Kashmir.

What is your message to youngsters of Kashmir?
Victim attitude will never help in life, it is better to bring in change that one can in restricted environment rather than cursing it. Adversities always come with opportunities but it is important to have energy for sustaining those adversities and identifying the right opportunity.

 

Pandits have to come back ultimately; Valley is safe

We should introspect rather than blaming others 

Family of Vijay Dhar is one among those few who chose to return couple of years after the migration of Pandit community in early 1990 from Kashmir. Vijay is son of well-known Kashmiri politician Late Durga Prasad Dhar. He studied at Jamia Millia Islamia Delhi and has remained active in politics and social life. He came back to Kashmir in 1992 and settled here only after 1998. He decided to set up DP Dhar Trust in the same year to contribute in the field of education. By now Delhi Public School which he established in Srinagar a few years ago has made a mark.

In an exclusive interview to Rising Kashmir’s Online Editor Daanish Bin Nabi, Dhar talks about his homecoming and setting up of DP Dhar Memorial Trust.

How would you define your father’s role to shape up your life?

He died at a very young age. He addressed United Nations at the age of only 31; such was his grip on politics. His influence on me has been primarily on things he would tell me often. Firstly, always keep your head on your shoulder. Secondly, always keep your hand down. As any other son, I have also learnt a lot from my father. One important thing about Sheikh Sahib, Bakhshi Sahib and my father Durga Prasad Dhar is that, they had a national pride and we are lacking that.
What motivated your family to come back to Kashmir?
My mother got ill in 1992. While were taking her to operation theatre she asked me when are we going back to Kashmir. There and then I made up my mind to return. Then in August 1992, we decided to come back to Valley. On hearing about our decision to return to Valley, hell was let loose in Home Ministry. They gave me an impression that Pakistan will shoot me and my family. For security reasons our names were changed. When we landed we received a warm reception from our people. Everyone welcomed us warmly. Then things started to calm down. In 1998, we finally returned and our family came with the idea of starting a school as education was the worst hit in early stages of turmoil. We had kept something in mind for our school, first not to ask for any government help and secondly not to take money from anyone.

You also served as Rajiv Gandhi’s Political Secretary. Tell us about that?

I won’t call myself political secretary. But yes, as a friend I was assisting him for four years. So with that association and my father’s political era we had with a reasonable association with Mrs. Indira Gandhi. At the end of the day, I don’t think anyone of us has achieved anything for Kashmir. And I really can’t understand what we are fighting for. If we look rationally then we really have done nothing for Kashmir. I solely blame myself and I am also responsible as much as all of us are. I think we could do a lot. A simple example, we have in the form of universities here. Why can’t we turn these universities into educational hub? We are all responsible.
So many efforts to bring back Kashmiri Pandits have not yielded encouraging results. What is your take?
I can’t give you reasons for migration of Pandits from Kashmir. I can only tell you about myself. That was a moment of uncertainty which just spread. I personally think Kashmiri Pandits should return. But the problem is they don’t feel secure enough to come back which is totally wrong. There are families who are returning to Valley. However, they are very few. Ultimately, these Pandit families have to come back to the state. And as far as Kashmiris are concerned they do welcome their Pandit neighbour families and friends.

Congress is believed to be the spoiler in Kashmir. What are your views?

I have changed my views completely now after being involved in various political scenarios. As I said, we are to be blamed than anyone else or any spoiler. We have done nothing for our own people and keep on blaming others. It is very sad that we point finger on others rather than looking at ourselves. Forget about political parties, what as common people have we given to our society. To me politics is not important but people, society and more importantly youth of our society are. We should blame ourselves for being spoilers rather than any other party or people. Aren’t we the biggest spoilers? Yes, we are. We should introspect rather than blaming others.

How do you see future of Kashmir after looking back at 20 years?

I tell you we have an excellent future but we are spoiling it. No other State in India has a bright future like ours. In 1988, we had a good tourist season we got five lakh tourist and simultaneously two lakh tourist for Amarnath the same year. That means in 1988, we had seven lakh tourists. In 2013, we had six lakh tourists and four lakh tourists for Amaranth which means from 1988 to 2013 there has been an increase of 3 lakh tourists. Likewise, in Jammu we had around one crore tourists.
Can’t we attract even 10% of that now? And I must tell you that these 20 years of turmoil have done wonders for Kashmiris. Kashmiris went out to see the world. Earlier, Lala would come in and get shawls and carpets and suddenly when Lala stopped to come to Kashmir, Kashmiris went out in his search. Now Kashmiris have done phenomenally well in every respect. It is delightful to see Kashmiris doing well all over the world.
DPS was a major step in modernizing education, still there is some resentment from various sections of the society.
If anyone has anything against me they should tell me. I will make myself clear to them. Let them have a discussion with me. I made a difference of two percent; let others make the remaining 98 per cent now. I am not a messiah but I am doing my bit. Everyone faces opposition and same is the case with us. Biscoe School also faced resentment earlier but parents supported it. I must be grateful to all parents as they support me like anything.

People relate DPS to Delhi’s efforts and relate it to normalcy in Valley?

This school has nothing to do with New Delhi or the politics of the state. We neither teach politics nor do we discuss it.
What about total enrollment in DPS and on what basis you give admissions?
Today, we have 4200 students. As far as admissions are concerned we first try to give it to siblings, then to any special child. But the main thing for selection of a child is how much parents are interested in their child. We are very keen as far as infrastructure of the school is concerned and we have probably a good infrastructure compared to any school in India. Our senior library has 40,000 books and junior library have 20,000 books.

What about expansion of DPS?

I will be happy if I can look after what I have at this moment. If I had known that school needs so much dedication I won’t have started it. Unless you don’t have proper dedication you can’t think of expansion.

Thank You.

 

Like Sajad all separatist leaders will one day contest elections: Agha Abdul Hussain

Srinagar: Former Hurriyat leader Agha Abdul Hussain Saturday advised Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other separatist leaders to shun their rigid approach and contest polls for the betterment of the people. “I am contesting elections from North Kashmir but that does not mean I am anti Freedom Movement. We must understand that by contesting elections can’t take us away from our goal of freedom,” Hussain told Srinagar based news gathering agency CNS adding that Mirwaiz and other separatist leader would one day do, what Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Lone did in 2009.

“Why these separatist leaders are relying only on election boycott call. This is a wrong notion that those who vote are anti-Movement. I was a militant commander but I realized that armed struggle could only lead us towards death and destruction and it is not a source of revolution,” Hussain said.

He said that those separatist leaders who force people to boycott elections are the friends of foes of Kashmiri people. “Hurriyat leaders are pursuing a sacred cause but their strategy is wrong. They fail to assess the ground situation. For some leaders election boycott has become a prestigious point and they don’t want that people should feel relaxed and come out from their miseries by casting their vote,” Agha Abdul Hussain told CNS.

Former separatist leader and the brother of Agha Hassan, Hurriyat Conference (M) leader, who has filed nomination papers to contest Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla constituency further said that the leaders of Palestine gave legitimacy to their Freedom Movement by contesting elections. “The Hamas leader contest elections and still they are fighting against the aggression of Israeil. People have laid down their lives here for the ongoing movement and Hurriyat leaders must change their mindset,” he said. (CNS)