Fractured Hurriyat

Our Own Madhouse—II

People are equally responsible as are our leaders

Daanish Bin Nabi

The last time I wrote about Hurriyat, all groups included, was more than a year ago. I had titled the write-up ‘Our Own Madhouse’, and had critically analyzed all the Hurriyat leaders and their policies.

Now, I am driven to write about our ‘Madhouse’ again, which is now divided in three main camps – G, M and JK. Lately, six members from the M group have left the party, and both sides have their separate versions for this move. Further reports say these six members have approached the G group for joining it. Whether they are taken in or they now form their own group remains to be seen. There are also reports that one of the founding members of the JK group, Shabir Shah, has resigned from the party which Shah refutes. However, party sources of JK faction say there is discord on various issues.

Disillusioned Kashmiris

The fact is—if Kashmiris have started showing disinterest towards the Hurriyat groups, it is because of their flawed policies, and the arrogance of its leaders.

One of the top Hurriyat leaders says that there are now five headquarters operating by the name – from Hyderpora, Nigeen, Sanatnagar, Batmaloo, Nowgam and Maisuma. All these are working sans coordination, and giving different protest calendars. We know, of course, that only the protest calls given by the Hyderpora headquarters of Hurriyat have impact now. The entire Valley does not shut down for them either. But the protest call of Hyderpora headquarters has some relevance because people believe that it has upheld their aspirations.  

It is now common knowledge that Hurriyat is losing its charm among the people of Kashmir. Who is responsible for its decline? It is these groups itself which are responsible for the Hurriyat’s decline.

Things have reached such a pass that any talk of Hurriyat among the common Kashmiris invites abuse now. Their own cadres are frustrated, as they themselves do not know what their leaders are up to.

Recently, while interviewing a senior and founding member of Hurriyat, I was waiting in their office when one of their men said to me, “Eman sanin lederan khilaf kaize chun ne lekhan (why don’t you journalists write against our leaders?)”. His question is indicative of the dissent growing among its own cadre.

Another man in the Hurriyat office said to me, “I think time has come that Mufti Sayeed will give azadi to the people here, as we are falling apart day by day.” One of the main Hurriyat groups had its executive meeting the same day.

All these groups have failed the common Kashmiri for their petty gains. One group is pitted against another, and one leader against another. No one among them has a heart large enough to accommodate the other. Each one wants to be seen as the undisputed godfather of Kashmir movement. They forget that it is people who choose their leader; even a tyrant is held accountable by people one day. Many youth I have spoken to in various universities across the Valley say that Hurriyat cannot manage unity among themselves, what will they offer us.

Thankless people

This is one side of the coin. The other side is: What have the people of Kashmir given to their Hurriyat leaders? The majority has betrayed them. Even Einstein would have failed to understand the psyche of a Kashmiri. It is these same people who voted in the 2014 Assembly elections in large numbers. Now, if this year will be again a Ragda Ragda season for them, they will come out in huge numbers to support the Hurriyat leaders.

A nation that craves for freedom doesn’t stand in long queues for an Army, Police job or a Bank job. In such a scenario and given such followers, one fails to understand what can the leader do. Even a neutral observer is rendered speechless.  

Talk to senior Hurriyat leaders and their cadres, and they all have different tales to tell. A veteran leader who has been associated with the Hurriyat camp since its inception and has also been an ex-militant said, “I leave my home daily at around 8 am, be it winter or summer, leaving my kids and family behind. I am aware that I may be caught anytime. I don’t know whether I will be able to see my family again. I toil with my leaders, play hide and seek with the police every day, and reach my house by 7 pm. When I switch on my laptop, on every social network site I see Kashmiris abusing us. At social gatherings or when we travel by bus, we have to listen to the abuses over and over again,” he says.

One of the daunting challenges that Hurriyat now faces is the resettlement issue of Kashmiri pandits. But given the disarray that the Hurriyat is in, effectively tackling this issue seems to be an uphill task for them. They could not give the people a single, unified program when a civilian was killed in Tral on April 13, 2015. Every group gave its own protest calls. However, some consensus prevailed on Narbal killing as every group gave shutdown call which was confined to Budgam district. But here again people criticized Hurriyat for its district wise hartal politics. 

When I put this question to a senior Hurriyat leader, he said, “For almost four hours, we debated on a hartal call. We were afraid to do so, because it’s the same people who abuse us for giving shutdown calls. Now when we did not issue a shutdown call, Kashmiris are labeling us as Indian agents and sellouts.”

Senior leader Shahid-ul-Islam of Hurriyat (M) said, “People easily abuse us and write against us. But they never come to us and give us their ideas on carrying forward this movement. This movement is not only ours; it belongs to the people. What will we do when people are not with us?” he questioned.

After the Geelani group confined its shutdown call to Tral town, social network was abuzz with “why Geelani did not give a call for a Valley-wide shutdown.” This is the dilemma of the Kashmiris. People may be fed up with the Hurriyat leadership, but in their hearts they are still bonded to the Hurriyat. It is only the arrogance of one group or the other that has disillusioned the Kashmiris.

Curse of Hurriyat—disunity

Disunity among its various groups is the curse of Hurriyat. Even though Kashmiris are suffering so much, this is the reason why people are not able to take Hurriyat seriously any more. Both Geelani and Mirwaiz have stated on many occasions that every group has the same goal, and everyone is working for the same aim – to achieve ‘Azadi’. But this logic of both the leaders seems to have failed on ground.

Sources also say that a sincere effort has been made by Hurriyat (M) to forge an alliance with Hurriyat (G) on sensitive issues like killings of innocent persons, and other relevant areas.

On August 28, 2014, Geelani stated that they are open to forge an alliance among all the leaders but on certain conditions. “The door of Hurriyat is open to those, who will not, Geelani said:

•    “Accept any four-point formula, soft borders, status-quo or any other out-of-box solution to the Kashmir dispute.”

•    “Take part in any bilateral or triangular meaningless and result-less dialogues”

•    “Participate directly or indirectly in the election process which is held under the Indian Constitution.”

•    “Violate the agreed principles, constitutions or the above-mentioned conditions.”

In December 2014, Hurriyat (M) constituted a two-member team of G N Zaki General Secretary of Awami Action Committee and senior member Musadiq Adil. Zaki said, “We have to come on a common platform so that people take us seriously again. Till date we had two meetings with Hurriyat (G). But they have certain reservations. Our group is discussing the issues, and I am hopeful that we will forge an alliance between the two groups soon.” 

While another mediator Musadiq Adil refuted Zaki’s claims. “It is not only Hurriyat (G) we have approached JKLF and Shabir Shah’s group as well. While JKLF agreed, Shabir said he will think over it. And as far Geelani Sahab is concerned, he refused to forge unity on any issue. He said that if tomorrow there is again any split or difference on any issue it will not send a positive message among the people. So, it is better to work separately,” Adil said.

Musadiq explained the predicament of the various Hurriyat groups like this: It is not unity of parties, but unity on issues.

Another senior leader Ayaz Akbar refuted the claims of Musadiq Adil and said that he never met Syed Ali Geelani. “Musadiq Adil did not meet Geelani Sahab. There is a difference of ideology between the two groups. Ours stand is for complete independence of Kashmir, while they are ready to think on out of box solutions which is not accepted to us,” Akbar said.

Conclusion

Whatever the reasons, the onus lies on the old man’s shoulders – Syed Ali Geelani. He is the senior most among all the Hurriyat leaders and an uncompromising man with a following among the people of Kashmir. He has to lead by example. He has to play a father’s role, if Hurriyat wants to survive the onslaught it is facing. Will he play the role of a visionary statesman and take everyone on board? Does he have the political acumen to show some relaxation in his rigid demeanor?

Likewise, Chairman of united Hurriyat Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in December 1994, for the first time went to Casablanca, Morocco, to participate in the Islamic Summit and OIC meetings. It is reported that there was an air of aura and respectability around Kashmiri leadership and delegation. Mirwaiz may be wretched by remembering those quality days. Will he also put efforts to mend his type of politics to accommodate others remains to be seen.

Author is the Op-ed Editor of Rising Kashmir. He can be mailed at daanishnabi@gmail.com 

Published on April 21, 2015