SRINAGAR:” Under the present circumstances it will be foolish to hold elections in J&K. You’ve seen the consequences of polls in Punjab this is all just to bluff the international community.”
These are the words of Gauf Sheikh a 29-year-old Srinagar advocate who articulates that most residents of the Valley feel about the Centers attempt to thrust the electoral process upon insurgency ravaged Kashmir later this year.
At the same time however what the reaction to the polls will be depends on who you talk to. People like the five leaders who were released from jail on March 31 say that a boycott will be enough to send a message to the Government
“Yes Chavanis singing the alaap of elections” says Muslim United Front(MUF) leader Moulvi Abbas Ansari. “If so it will be in Jammu Ladakh and the military controlled Kargil border areas. But no Muslim will vote. And that will be enough.”
And while the Moulvi speaks for the Muslims even the Kashmiri Pandits who have stayed in the Valley seem ready to go along. “I won’t vote” says Ravi Shah a general stores owner in Srinagars Malsuma Bazaar “It will be a blunder the Government will become a bigger enemy of the people.
The militants naturally say theyll actively oppose it. “Our Mujahedeen will not allow it” says Ikhwan-ul-Muslimeen acting commander-in-chief Abu Arshad. “And the people will support us in this.”
Some militants have already made their plans in view of the Center repeatedly testing the waters for elections.
“Our efforts will be directed towards the Jammu region to expose the Governments propaganda about the situation” says Al-Jehad Supreme Commander Sheikh Abdul Aziz
In fact nobody here seems to understand what the hurry for elections is especially since there is broad agreement that it was the rigged polls of 1987 which converted the pent-up frustrations of the people into the violence that has come to characterize the strife torn Valley today.
“You can’t fool the people twice.
During the last elections some people voted and it was a beautiful chance for India (to bring Kashmir into the mainstream)” points out Anantnag-based MUF leader Qazi Nissar“Yctthey never wanted India-waad only Congress-waad”
“This time there will be a 100% boycott and the Government will be totally exposed” he adds. “Unfortunately the Prime Minister is not aware of the situation in Kashmir his chamchas are not telling him what’s going on here.”
More influential leaders like Peoples Conference leader Abdul Giani Lone don’t even acknowledge the Governments efforts.
“We are least concerned If the opponent wants to cheat himself then it makes no difference if Saxena is replaced by Abdullah then it comes to the same thing.”
“Not a single Kashmiri is going to come out to vote” he adds. “They will have to make security Islands but where will they find candidates? Who will file papers?” Rauf Sheikh shares his skepticism. “There might be 42 persons ready to contest and win but are 42 willing to contest and lose?” he asks. Out of 100 Assembly seats 42 represent the Valley about two dozen represent the Jammu region while 24 remain unoccupied as they are meant for Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
Governor G.C.Saxena dismisses all these doubts with the proverbial wave of the hand: “Elections have to take place at some point of time. Just because the conditions may not be conductive to hold free and fair elections doesn’t mean we should not make the efforts to prepare the ground.”
The Governor puts no time limit but the pressure from New Delhi on him to set the stage for this autumn is clear.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 26, 1992
