Debate over chances of participation of Kashmiri separatists in 2014 assembly elections is gaining momentum in Jammu and Kashmir as statements pouring in from various separatist leaders clearly suggest that separatist particularly moderates individually or otherwise are sending signals to build public opinion, however, what is more interesting is that fact that people completely ignore the statements and usually avoid to react.
Of late, the 1971 Indian Airlines plane hijacker-turned- politician Hashim Qureshi Friday asked the separatist parties not to shy away from elections stressing it is not a “contagious disease”. Qureshi also seconded senior Hurriyat leader Prof Abdul Gani Bhat and said the UN resolutions on Kashmir are obsolete. Stressing elections are not a disease, Qureshi called upon separatists to contemplate taking part in elections. “If they (separatists) are in the assembly, they can make their voice heard. They should not run away from the elections, they should know that election is not a contagious disease”, Qureshi, told reporters here. He said if separatists make it to the assembly they can pass an “Azaadi resolution” which will bring “more global attention to the issue. And if their resolution is not accepted they can resign”, said Qureshi, who had hijacked an Indian Airlines passenger plane to Pakistan in 1971 Terming UN resolutions as not a viable option Qureshi said his party rejects the 1949 United Nations plebiscite resolution on Jammu and Kashmir. “The United Nations resolution on Kashmir is controversial because in its last resolution (in 1949) the people of the state are asked to choose between the two masters – India and Pakistan”, he said. He said the United Nations resolutions have become “obsolete” because of the conditions laid in the resolutions which ask Pakistan to withdraw its forces from the entire state and hand over the areas under its control to India government in Srinagar”. However Qureshi termed Bhat’s statement on UN resolutions as indiscipline as according to him he (Bhat) had violated the constitutions of Hurriyat Conference.
Bashir Assad