Congress’s state chief and the former minister Ghulam Ahmad Mir talks in detail about reasons behind Congress’s defeat in 2014 and the major challenges confronted by Kashmir at present.
Excerpts from the Interview
|| ZAHOOR GULZAR
Q: As a chief of the state Congress in Jammu and Kashmir. What according to you were the reasons that led to party’s drubbing during the polls of 2014? Speculations galore that it was the hanging of Afzal Guru due to which Congress witnessed the route.
Mir: Rout would not be the proper word. We were not routed at all. We did well during the polls. The secular camp is getting strong ever day after in Jammu and Kashmir and that the people here yearn for change. As far as the polls of 2014 are concerned, it was the PDP that enacted a drama to lure voters. It created fear psychosis in the minds of people that if they vote for some other party, BJP would come to the state and would rule it. During the entire campaign, the PDP leaders concentrated on a single thing and that was to create fear in the minds of the people of Kashmir about BJP.
The PDP leaders were seen reiterating in every poll rally that it is onlt the PDP which is capable of stooping the BJP’s march to Kashmir. They said to people during polls that it is the PDP that can scuttle BJP’s mission 44+ and if people would not vote for the PDP, BJP’s coming to power would become inevitable. The result was obvious. People in droves came out to vote and PDP won 28 seats. What made everyone to drop jaws later was how PDP made BJP’s entry in the state and how they were made the part of the government in the state. The people of Kashmir were brutally deceived by the PDP.
This was the main reason that Congress didn’t get much seat share in the state. But at present, our base is getting strengthened with each passing day. Kashmir has always held the ethos of mutual brotherhood, communal harmony and tolerance supreme. They would never allow the communal forces to go scot free. It is our firm belief that the secular fabric of the state has to be preserved and Congress has always remained in the forefront in doing so.
The PDP leaders were seen reiterating in every poll rally that it is onlt the PDP which is capable of stooping the BJP’s march to Kashmir. They said to people during polls that it is the PDP that can scuttle BJP’s mission 44+ and if people would not vote for the PDP, BJP’s coming to power would become inevitable. The result was obvious. People in droves came out to vote and PDP won 28 seats. What made everyone to drop jaws later was how PDP made BJP’s entry in the state and how they were made the part of the government in the state. The people of Kashmir were brutally deceived by the PDP. This was the main reason that Congress didn’t get much seat share in the state.
Q: Wasn’t then the hanging of Afzal Guru a reason for Congress’s defeat in the state?
Mir: Not at all. That wasn’t a reason. Afzal Guru’s hanging was a Supreme Court verdict. Congres has nothing to do with it. As I already told you that the PDP created such an environment that people were made fearful that if they don’t vote for the PDP, the BJP would win and form the government in the state. Later, what happened, we all know. Q: So what would be the priorities of the Congress party in the state at present? Mir:The Congress would continue to raise voice for the people of the state- for their rights and against those who are taking masses here for a ride. We will fight against the communal elements with the indomitable will and will succeeded in proving people a sigh of relief from anarchy and mis-governance.
Q: What are the reasons that you say that state has been left in the hands of the communal elements?
Mir: See the incidents that have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir since the day BJP came to power. There are attacks being made against the special status of the state. Non issues are being staged as if the state would not run if such issues aren’t addressed at an earliest. There are people who were attacked just because they belong to the other religion. There are cases being witnessed like students outside the state being harassed. This is total chaos that we are seeing on ground at present. This all has to be stopped. It merits concern and no sane people would undermine such incidents at all.
Q: Tell us what should be done to stop the harassment of the Kashmiri students outside the state of Jammu and Kashmir?
Mir: The attack on students from J&K in Mewar University in Rajasthan by some right wing activists is a worrying factor for the students and parents. This is very unfortunate that students have been attacked … it is aimed to create fear psychosis among the students by right wing activists. The union government should take cognizance of the matter and ensure that the career of students is not compromised. We are really concerned over the profiling of students and businessmen from the state in West Bengal and elsewhere by Union Ministry of Home Affairs merely on the grounds of being the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. It is unfortunate. The Centre should take cognizance as to why students from Jammu and Kashmir only are being harassed on various pretexts. We have sought clarity from the Centre about the Home Ministry advisory regarding students of Jammu and Kashmir.
Q: You earlier made the state that GOI is working for the Corporate sector and against the aspirations of Youth here. Please tell us the context of your statement?
Mir: What I want is that the youth must come forward and contribute to the overall development of the state and shoulder the responsibility of empowering the people. I want them to remain vigilant and defeat the elements exploiting them for personal benefits. The fact is that the NDA government at the Centre is antifarmer and anti-youth. Congress party under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi would continue to fight the discrimination against the farmers and the youth and we would continue to defeat anti-people and anti-youth policies of the Modi government.
Q: What are the reasons, according to you, behind the radicalisation of youth as being witnessed at present in Kashmir?
Mir: We have seen that youth are joining militancy and particularly those who have the good educational background. It is a worrisome trend and has to be stopped without further delay. As far as the reasons behind such incidents are concerned, everyone is aware that since the day BJP formed the government with the PDP in the state, the people got dismayed. The main reason behind the increase in the militancy is BJP’s coming to power in the state. Earlier, people would not even think in their dreams that BJP would ever get successful in forming the government in Kashmir- thanks to PDP that it is now every much part and parcel of the government.
