NEW DELHIE: The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (KLE) chief, Yaseen Malik has said that there was no question of his donning the mantle of chief minister ship of the state in any future elections. “My struggle is not for power, as it is people’s struggle and would be taken to its logical conclusion,” Yaseen Malik asserted while appearing in the Zee to levision “program Aap ki Adalat.” “Politics is my first love and passion and no passionate lover ever ped, als his love in cither the brothels of Delhi darbar or darbar of Islamabad.”’ Malik said. In reply to a question whether his organization was being relegated 10 background by more powerful groups, the JKLF chief said, “far from seeking any diminishing of its influence and reach, JKLFis growing in strength as it is backed by the people of Jammu and Kashmir” Yaseen Malik said his organization stood for reunification of both the parts of Jammu and Kashmir and determination of its future by the people of the state after tripartite dialogue with Pakistan and India. The JKLF chief was asked how and when the Government of India could talk to Kashmiri’s when each and every group or outhit was claiming (0 represent the people, Yaseen Malik said, “JKLP has never claimed to be sole representative of the people of Kashmir.”
He said, “when one talked of Jammu and Kashmir it not only meant Muslims of the valley, Gilgit, Muzaffabad and Baltiistan, but also people of Jammu, Ladakh and the Kashmiri pundits.”
Yaseen Malik said his organization was all for the return of Kashmiri Hindu as well as Kashmiri Muslims back to Kashmir. He said JKLF wanted reunification of the entire Jammu and Kashmir.
When a questioner charged that JKLFhad perpetrated violence and many of its Leaders were “criminals,” Malik countered by saying, “who created the conditions for this.” “To another question whether the organization regretted slaying prominent intellectuals like Sarvan and Premi, Lassa Kaul and the former vice chancellor of Kashmir University, Mushir ul Haq, the JKLF chief said people should also have consideration for hundreds of common people who had been killed during the last four year.
Yaseen Malik also strongly refuted charges that there had been a “secret deal” in his being released.
The JKLF chief said, “I was released on bail on the basis of a medical report and orders of the Supreme Court.”
When told that even prominent political leaders like the PCC() chief, Ghulam Rasool Karhad said that he (Yaseen Malik). was being thrust on Congress, the JKLF chief strongly retorted, “Kar was a puppet and has always been one. He (Kar) will naturally talk only what Suits his interests.”
When asked how he could claim to represent the people of Kashmir wen the Pakistani Prime Minister, Mrs. Benazir Bhutto had termed him and other Kashmiri leaders as, “forces of no consequence,” the JKLF chief replied that his organization had never banked on the support of Pakistan.
His organization “did not need any certificate from Leaders like Mrs. Bhutto,” he said adding that the “people of the state were the final judges of the destiny of Jammu and Kashmir.”
He asserted that JKLF was not getting any arms from Pakistan.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 7, 1994
