Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024: DH Interview | Hurriyat is resolution seeker not separatist, no conflict with those contesting elections: Mirwaiz

Once a dominant force in Kashmir politics, the All Party Hurriyat Conference's influence has waned since the abrogation of Article 370. In an interview with DH’s Zulfikar Majid, Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq claims the alliance of political parties, social organisations and religious groups he leads is resolution seeker, and not separatist in nature. Umar sees no conflict with those contesting elections to represent people in the J&K legislature.  

Q: Who represents the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the current situation? Separatist or mainstream leaders?

Firstly, I do not agree with this nomenclature of separatist given to us by the media. We have always said that Hurriyat Conference is resolution seeker, not separatist. As for those political groups who stand to represent people in civic elections, and those of us seeking resolution of the conflict, I don’t see us in a competition. I believe such a narrative only weakens the interests of the people we represent. We both have our spheres of Influence and manner of approach which should be utilized to benefit our people and empower them.
The only distinction is that those of us, who claim to represent the people, should strive for and prioritize peoples’ cause and interest over and above our personal interest and benefit.

Q: Are you and your separatist amalgam ready to engage in talks with New Delhi, if invited?

Our focus is to ensure political engagement with the aspirations and sentiments of people and a closure to the conflict. Our role is clear: to work towards that end. And the best medium for that is the peaceful means of dialogue and deliberation – an approach of mutual understanding and addressing of concerns and interests. We have always been ready and supported every effort at it, right from (Atal Behari) Vajpayee ji to Manmohan Singh ji to even (Narendra) Modi ji when he came to power in 2014 and we reached out to him through media for engagement.
Despite being targeted for this approach and paying personal price, Hurriyat has stood firm by it. But in the current dispensation in New Delhi, so far there is little appetite for such a thing. So we will have to be patient, steadfast and persevere.

Q: Do you accept that abrogation of Article 370 and post 2019 separatists have been relegated to oblivion?

As long as both India and Pakistan claim Kashmir in its entirety the conflict is alive, and the sentiment of the people persists. And as long as the sentiment is alive Hurriyat is alive and relevant. The crackdown on Hurriyat started in 2017 itself and by early 2019 many Hurriyat leaders’ and members were arrested after being implicated in UAPA and PSA cases and incarcerated. In August 2019 the crackdown intensified and all others including lower rung members were also arrested and I was put under house detention. Most of the Hurriyat constituents were banned under the UAPA and continue to be so.

Q: If New Delhi invites Hurriyat for talks, what would be the key elements of such a dialogue?

I believe the moment stakeholders are ready to engage possibilities open up. We have and are most willing to resolve and settle the issue for good. New Delhi has to take the call. As for the key element, addressing peoples’ sentiment and aspirations is the mainstay of the engagement. How that comes about is open to workability. We already have the previous framework of dialogue from Vajpayee ji’s and Manmohan Singh ji’s time to begin with. Release of all political prisoners including leadership can be an important first step. And India and Pakistan engagement, the final peace push.

Q: The Government of India says that peace has returned to Kashmir after the former state’s special status was removed. Do you agree?

A: We have been silenced. But silence does not mean peace. You may not see active turmoil as before 2019 but there is a strong latent resistance to all this within people. It is because of the fear of repercussions that people are self censoring and not expressing themselves in the open.
The extreme measures of repression and more forces were brought in when Article 370 was abrogated. All political leaders and activists across the spectrum were detained, huge arrests of civil society members and youth was made. All communication lines were snapped, complete media gag was imposed and so on. Now it’s been more than five years since the 2019 unilateral changes and all these five have seen the continuation of this policy.
The Reorganisation Act, dismissal of locals from government service, attachment of properties, continued daily arrests, crackdown on local press and pressure to only put out the government version of news, ire on people for any expression of dissenting opinion on social media platforms and all these are experiences of our daily life have forced us to be quiet.

Q: What is Hurriyat’s take on abrogation of Article 370 of Indian Constitution?

You See Article 370 was a constitutional commitment made by the Indian state with the people of J&K, like the commitments made by them at international fora. By their own admission it had been hollowed out much over time. The right of people over their land, resources and jobs that had been safeguarded during the Maharajas time and endorsed by the Indian constitution as 35A was also revoked On August 5, 2019 and the state was bifurcated and downgraded to two union territories.
This was a huge shock to the people of J&K. The loss of these safeguards and subsequent changes brought about through the Reorganization Act of 2019 giving domicile rights to outsiders , has made people vulnerable and fearful of demographic engineering, loss of identity and disempowerment.

Q: What do you believe are the main grievances of the people today, and how should they be addressed?

Political prisoners, youth, civil society members, rights activists, journalists, lawyers, and all others in jails in J&K and across India must be released and cases against them under PSA and UAPA revoked. The condition of many of them in jails is miserable and that is a constant concern for their families and the people of Kashmir. The atmosphere of intimidation in Jammu and Kashmir through surveillance, application of stringent and draconian laws, reprisals through arrests, dismissals from jobs, legal suits, attachment of properties, cyber watch by authorities in public , all these should be stopped.

Q: What is the way out to close the conflict in Kashmir once for all?

Safeguards to land, resources and jobs for the people of J&K should be immediately restored. More avenues and Job opportunities should be created for the youth. People should be made their own masters and not ruled from New Delhi. People of Kashmir, including me, should be allowed to live as a free person respecting my freedom and liberty. And finally engagement for resolution initiated and the conflict closed so that all of us in the region can live and prosper in peace.

Q: What is Hurriyat’s take on abrogation of Article 370 of Indian Constitution?

You see Article 370 was a constitutional commitment made by the Indian state with the people of J&K, like the commitments made by them at international fora. By their own admission it had been hollowed out much over time. The right of people over their land, resources and jobs that had been safeguarded during the Maharajas time and endorsed by the Indian constitution as 35A was also revoked On August 5, 2019 and the state was bifurcated and downgraded to two union territories.
This was a huge shock to the people of J&K. The loss of these safeguards and subsequent changes brought about through the Reorganization Act of 2019 giving domicile rights to outsiders , has made people vulnerable and fearful of demographic engineering, loss of identity and disempowerment.

Q: Finally coming to J&K LG’s claims that you are a free man and can go anywhere and your statements that you are being placed under house detention repeatedly? What is the reality?

On 4th of August 2019, I was put under house detention and after a long period of four and a half years and I was released in September 2023 on court directions. But since then too I am repeatedly put under house arrest. Even when I am allowed to move out I cannot do so without informing and seeking permission of the authorities. Since the elections were announced, I am again under house arrest. So it’s a continuing affair. It has greatly affected my life and my work and duties as the Mirwaiz and a public person.
As Mirwaz I am not allowed to deliver the Friday sermon at the central Jamia Masjid on Fridays, a tradition followed by my ancestors for centuries. It is very sad for me and greatly hurts the sentiments of thousands of people who visit the mosque every Friday for this. Also visiting historic religious shrines and mosques on important religious occasions and delivering sermons and addressing relevant social issues, as is the tradition here, which has been affected by the restrictions on me. My social reform and educational initiatives suffer. As a public person my public outreach is greatly curtailed, nor are people and media allowed to visit me. Even attending family gatherings is not allowed under arrest.  So it's very uncertain and frustrating.