Page 13 - magazine112.cdr

June 26 to July 2 : Weekly News Magazine
messenger INTERVIEW 13

how to integrate them back so that they can lead normal lives. We are
also differentiating local (militants) and outsiders. I am hopeful that we
will be able to create a positive way forward.
Q. Will the government make a talks offer to the Hurriyat? ?
MM: At some point of time, everybody has to be engaged, including the
Hurriyat. First of all, there should be a conducive atmosphere. I will have
to make a conducive atmosphere. Sometimes there are problems
because both sides aren’t on any common level. One side wants to do
something and the other side is doing something else. Had the Hurriyat
responded to the all-party delegation, we may have moved forward.
Besides I think when the situation is normal, that is the time to engage
because when the situation goes out of control, nobody listens to
anybody.

Q. What you were saying in 2010 as opposition leader, when Omar
Abdullah was in power, the National Conference is saying exactly the
same thing against you today, while you are in power and they are in
Q. There are people who think there is a rise in cultural majoritarianism and Opposition. Isn’t it hypocritical??
communalism. Do you think India will stay secular?? MM: It is absolutely wrong to compare us to the National Conference. It is a
MM: I don’t think communalism is ever going to succeed in this country wrong analogy. There hasn’t been an iota of change in our stance. Omar
because people are secular and parties will have to mould themselves to Abdullah was external affairs minister (Union minister of state) going
the times. I don’t think India is going to become a State that belongs to only around the world saying that Pakistan is committing terrorism. They were
one religion. That is never going to happen. demanding that Pakistan be bombed. Now they are saying a completely
A few days ago somebody said that Muslims are being adversely affected different thing. What happened during the last five-six months in Kashmir
by demonetisation because there are no banks in Muslim areas. The has happened for the first time in the history of J&K. It hasn’t happened
Congress party has been ruling for the last sixty years and if there are no ever since 1989. When has a crowd, thousands of people, gone and
banks and ATMs in Muslim areas who are to blame for that.
attacked a police station or run over a security force camp earlier?
Besides, there was a reason behind people taking to streets in 2008, 2009
Q. Did you ever rethink your decision to go with the BJP in these months?? and 2010. There was a fake encounter in which civilians were killed that
MM: No, not at all. It is out of question for me to question my father’s triggered protests in 2010. Similarly, a schoolboy was killed, before people
decision. You can’t believe, even during his last days, the conviction and came out to protest. This time, nothing of that sort happened.?Encounters
commitment I saw in him. He would repeatedly say ‘Mehbooba, this is the have been taking place always. When the NC had a two-third majority (in
only way, there is no other way’. I could have never imagined that after the the Assembly), Omar joined the NDA government as a minister. They
loss of so many lives and so much destruction, I would be still there. It is couldn’t do anything even when they had a two-third majority and they have
only because of his conviction that you have to be there. I think it is my duty the audacity to question us. When the NC aligned with the NDA, they didn’t
that I should try my level best.?I am cent percent convinced that my father’s have a common minimum programme. There was no understanding when
decision to align with the BJP is full of possibilities to get Kashmir out of this they aligned with the Congress and formed a coalition government. We
turmoil with honour and dignity for our people and permanently end this have gone with the BJP despite stiff opposition because we have a plan.
pain. The day I feel that I have failed in this purpose, I will not take even a We have to convince people that the issue can be resolved through good
second to give up. I will leave politics and prefer to stay at home. relations between the two countries (India and Pakistan). My father
convinced PM Vajpayee and we saw a forward movement and we opened
Q. The case against human rights activist Khurram Parvez fell through. roads that were shut for decades.
The Court called his detention abuse of power and illegal. What are you
going to do about the rounding up of people under the Public Safety Act Q: You have been saying that one of the reasons for your alliance with BJP
(PSA)?? You and your party were vehemently opposing detentions under was to bring Kashmir and Jammu provinces closer to each other and thus
PSA while in opposition? strengthen the bond between the majority Muslims and the minority Hindu
MM: The impression that a large number of people are in custody isn’t population in the State. The reality on ground seems to be contrary. People
correct. There aren’t a large number of people booked under the PSA say while BJP has a strong say in larger policy decisions, they don’t allow
either. But we will review these cases, especially that of students. And if the you to take any decision in Jammu province, not even about posting an
person is not a chronic stone-pelter or hasn’t been doing it again and again, officer. Your critics say you can’t post a deputy commissioner or a SSP who
we will release them. In fact, we had started a review of these cases from is from Kashmir, especially a Muslim, in districts like Jammu, Sambha,
2008. We wanted to review all the cases till 2014, but then this unrest Kathua or Udhampur?
happened. Of course we are going to review all those cases. MM: I don’t think that is a problem. We can post any officer anywhere in the
State and I don’t think they will have any objection. Local officer serving
Q. How long will the daily Kashmir Reader stay banned?? closer to their home has been happening for a long time. It has been
MM: We are looking into it. We will lift the ban soon. happening. We are thinking to post Kashmiri officers in Jammu and officers
from Jammu in the valley.
Q. There are reports almost every week that a local boy who had recently Please recall what had happened in 2008. There was unrest across Jammu
joined militancy, mostly after Burhan Wani’s killing, has been killed in an too. There was communal violence in Kishtwar. This time nothing of that
encounter. How do you see this phenomenon? Are you doing anything sort happened. While so much was happening in Kashmir, Jammu was
about that too?? calm. It is only because we are in alliance with BJP.
MM: In my last Unified Command meeting, I told the police and other
security agencies that please contact the parents of these local boys so Q. Senior BJP leader and Former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha is in
that they are persuaded to return. During five encounters, the parents Kashmir for the second time and he is meeting people, Hurriyat leaders,
were called and they were successful in persuading their boys and their traders etc?
lives were saved. We need to have a plan of action. A majority of these boys MM: Yes he is meeting people. I know about it. Lets see what comes out of it.
(who have joined militancy) haven’t killed anybody. We need to figure out