SRINAGAR: People’s League chief Shabir Ahmed Shah feels that the Proposed Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir would be held only for the Congress Party’s political benefit, and that the polls would only bring a lot of Bloodshed to the Valley. “Mr. Shah, who has spent 20 years of _his life in prison for demanding self-determination for Kashmiris, said that the All Party Hurriyat Conference, of which he is a constituent, had many problems, and that a lot of work needed to be done to render it politically successful, Excerpts: What do you feel about the proposed elections? ‘A: Prime Minister, V. Narasimha) Rao Saheb’s elections are only six months away, and we all know how bad his political position is. The Congress wants something to show to the country. It thinks elections here will fetch it votes in the General Elections.  The Government can force elections “on Kashmir, they will have crack downs, herd people into voting booths, Or tell everyone to go to a stadium where ballot boxes will be lined up, and force people to vote, But this will only be a dhoka, (fraud) and not a ‘permanent solution.

Feel it (the elections) will bring a lot ‘of bloodshed. It will not help things.

All we want is a solution we want it to start somewhere anywhere. To ask for the right to self-determination is no crime. (The Kashmir issue) is a political problem, and we want a political solution.

If elections are announced, we will oppose them politically.

Q: But even within the Hurriyat Conference there are problems,

A: It is true, there are many problems, A lot of work still needs to be done, I want to broad base the Hurriyat, and bring in people from other parts of the State. It can be made a successful organization, and efforts should not be given up. But one can only change things by staying in the organization, and not by going out think you know what I mean.

Q: How will you do that, when there is such a strong feeling of suspicion and distrust in the Valley? A: The British left in 1947, but their tactics are still here divide and rule, earlier individuals doubted each other, now organizations doubt each other. This is a job of the (intelligence) agencies, (on both sides of the border), be it the RAW, IB or the ISI.

It will definitely take time to remove doubt from the people’s minds.

The Government is trying to kill off ‘as many freedom fighters as its can through counterinsurgency groups like Kukka Parrey, he is a symbol of this and then blaming it on inter group Clashes, All its actions are increasing he alienation of people from India, Such counterinsurgency groups are the last trump card of the RAW, to continue the infighting. Even this will pass.

Q: What are your plans?

A: In November we will go to Delhi and meet intellectuals and political leaders. We want to let them know that Kashmiris burning, that by force, you can make us do anything, but might is never right. We will be successful if we are able to convince the people of India of our cause, and create a situation similar to the one when Americans protested against the Vietnam War. We want the right to self-determination, but we never closed any option. All we ask is that you ask the awaam (people) what they, want.

Article extracted from this publication >> November 3, 1995