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09
June 26 to July 2 : Weekly News Magazine
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INTERVIEW

Independence has changed

its meaning. says Mehbooba Mufti
Independence has changed its meaning. It is more about globalisation, come out. You are talking to security guys all the time, telling them please
economy, says Mehbooba Mufti, It was such a feeling that I can't even observe restraint. You are constantly telling them, please don’t do this,
express because I had never imagined that there is going to be a day when I please don’t do that. And again something happens and people get injured
am going to be at the helm of affairs and something like this can happen. and killed. It was helplessness at that point of time.?I was also anguished
because I thought I must have seen these boys so many times. I thought
Q. What was your reaction when you heard about Burhan Wani’s killing and they must have clapped at my rallies — may be they were too young when I
the subsequent deaths of people who came out in massive numbers to would go through those areas. Many a time, I would meet these boys on my
protest at the hands of security forces?? way and at times they would have complaints against a police or Army
MM: When I heard the news, I think it was around 6:30 and 7:30 after magrib camp. I used to see to it that I am able to help them. I have been to each and
nimaz (evening prayers). I was sitting with my sister and brother-in-law. every place there (in south Kashmir). Those days I had only one PSO
Suddenly I got a call that Burhan Wani was killed. My first reaction was that (personal security officer). Sometimes even the policeman wouldn’t dare
please take care, please tell CRPF people, tell others to exert maximum to go to those places but I would go. These young kids would surround me
caution, try to impose curfew at sensitive places so that we are able to and accompany me to those far-flung villages. It hurt me also because I
contain the situation and nobody gets hurt. This was my first reaction. I was thought these are the boys who must have been holding their mother’s
also surprised in the sense because it was something I had not anticipated hand or may be some of them were slightly older when I saw them. I must
will happen, and it was happening. Burhan Wani was a person who was have seen them or they must have seen me. ?I tried my best along with my
seen by many youngsters on social media. I knew that it would have father. We tried to take fear out of their hearts because, if you recall, there
repercussions in the sense that young boys may come out to go to his was a time that when these young boys, men and women would pass a
funeral etc. But it will go to such an extent, I had never thought about it. One, security forces camp, they were asked to run. They could not walk, they had
it was a surprise. Secondly, my concern was how to control the situation in a to run, and they were scared. Many a time when a new camp came up, they
way that there is no casualty and nobody gets hurt. That was the only focus. would gather these young boys to build the camp. So I would go to the
(security) camps and take these boys out. I felt sad because I was the one
Q. When you heard that the police and CRPF killed around 30 people on the who tried to see to it that they got their confidence back. When Mufti sahib
first day, what did you think?? was CM or even earlier, I would visit the Army camps and talk to the
MM: It is not that 30-40 people died on the first day. News of deaths started concerned officer and ask him why have you brought this boy there, why
trickling in, and the numbers started adding up in the first three days are you calling him to the camp. Not only Army, I would plead on behalf of
because a number of people who were injured died subsequently. It was these kids before the Task Force (of J&K Police). So when I heard that
such a feeling that I can’t even express because I had never imagined that these boys have come out on the roads and are going towards police
there is going to be a day when I am going to be at the helm of affairs and stations and camps, trying to attack them and that they were getting hurt
something like this can happen. It was a shock. I had never comprehended and killed, I thought, my God, this was not my purpose to get them out of that
in my life that something like this is going to happen. I don’t have words.?I fear psychosis, which existed during those years. I wanted them to live a
was totally taken aback. At times your mind goes blank… You are doing happy healthy life, play like any other kids. ?I think that the problem that we
everything, you are imposing curfew, you are seeing to it that people don’t have in Kashmir is not child’s play. It is for the elders to work towards finding