The Hindu : Lone accuses Geelani of playing Pak.'s game

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003

National

National

Lone accuses Geelani of playing Pak.'s game

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI OCT. 7. The bad political blood in the All-Party Hurriyat Conference, caused by Syed Ali Shah Geelani's walkout, continues to spill in Kashmir. Sajjad Lone, chairman of the People's Conference, has accused the Jamat-e-Islami leader of creating conditions that would "impede efforts to involve Kashmiris" in any future talks between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.

It was Syed Geelani who had accused the People's Conference of fielding "proxy" candidates in the last Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The charge was denied by the Lone brothers (who have assumed the People's Conference leadership, after their father, Abdul Gani Lone, was assassinated). Now, it seems, it was Mr. Lone's turn to return the compliment.

In a signed article in a Kashmir newspaper, Mr. Lone accused Syed Geelani of playing Pakistan's game by creating "confusion about the political definition of Kashmiri leadership". Mr. Lone's open attack has caused considerable consternation in the Valley and has been noted here in official circles.

Mr. Lone has contended that just as the Indian definition of Kashmiri leadership was limited to Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and Farooq Abdullah, so "the Pakistani definition of Kashmiri leadership will mean individuals like Geelani sahib". This would leave out those, like the APHC, who represented Kashmiris.

Significantly, Mr. Lone suggests that there has been no split in the APHC; only a few individuals had walked out. The Pakistan Television was propping up these individuals, including Syed Geelani. The state-owned PTV had, according to Mr. Lone, "blatantly recognised the deserters as the true APHC." This "newsroom fiction," he wrote, beat Pakistan's famed fiction drama serials.

The sentiment of `Azadi' among Kashmiris, he said, remained strong as was evident from the `bank of sacrifice' to which every Kashmiri family had contributed.

The APHC represented and gave voice to this Kashmiri sentiment for self-determination, Mr. Lone said. Those who were "trying to discredit or weaken the APHC" were "weakening the sentiment by diluting the strength of the argument put forward by the APHC by projecting it as a feeble voice as a result of division".

He said it was important to see who stood for what to separate the "demagogues" from the "sincere political leaders", the "professional rabble rousers and professional mourners" from leaders who valued the sacrifices of the people of Kashmir. The Lone attack is being seen as the opening salvo in a struggle for control over the `Azadi' agenda. The secessionist constituency finds itself in considerable disarray after the considerable success garnered by the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, with his "healing touch" policy.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National