‘Dustbin of history’ or ‘history of sorts’

Omar, Mehbooba: ‘Join the people’s movement or else you may find yourself in the dustbins of history’.

“What else do you want to see? Kashmiri students of 10th and 12th classes from missionary schools on the rooftops of buses are shouting pro-freedom slogans,� said Omar Abdullah during an interview with Karan Thapar recently in the programme - Devil’s Advocate on CNN-IBN. This is not for the first time that Mr Omar has made such candid admissions with regards to the ground situation and reality in Kashmir.

In another television debate on NDTV 24/7, Mr Omar admitted the fact that he or any other leader from the mainstream political parties cannot pull even one-tenth of the crowd the Hurriyat leaders managed during the recent wave of pro-freedom rallies there.

Mr Omar deserves all the accolades for his ‘selective’ candid admissions and political frankness. Give him ten out of ten for this.

But, then there is a bollywood twist in the story. In Omar’s own words, Kashmiri people – tens of thousands of them; seek ‘Azadi’ from India, but the president of the National Conference opines that complete independence for both sides of Kashmir along the Line of Control (LoC) is not a viable option at all. “Independent Kashmir will be surrounded by three South Asian nuclear powers, India, Pakistan and China; and then it won’t be possible for Kashmir to survive on the economic front as well as from the strategic point of view,� Mr Omar argues. Given his exposure, articulation, political acumen and knowledge about international relations, we believe Mr Omar must know that there are more than 50 independent nations in the world; which are either smaller in size than Kashmir, or as big as Kashmir. Kosovo (Serbian breakaway province), Abkhazia and South Ossetia (breakaway provinces of Georgia) are some of the recent examples.

Let’s be fair with Omar. It is his opinion. Opinion of an individual, a young and dynamic political figure, who has the right to comment and right to express his views regarding the future of Kashmir. So what if his views are against the populous mood and sentiment of Kashmiris! All Kashmiris should respect Omar’s right to express himself. And so should he. Omar should also show respect to the ‘Azadi’ sentiment of Kashmiris.

Let’s talk a little about our own Ms Mehbooba Mufti. Papa’s darling, daughter Mehbooba while addressing her party members and workers recently made a very valid point. “If Kashmiris were to make a demand for independent Kashmir while holding Indian tri-color in their hands, would India succumb to their demand? During a television debate president of the PDP remarked that the Hindu extremists of Jammu were holding Indian flags in one hand and throwing petrol bombs on Kashmiri Muslims by another. Let’s acknowledge Mehbooba’s statements also. She has a point. So what if it may be for domestic consumption only!

Kashmiris should not expect too much from pro-India parties Mr Omar and Ms Mehbooba lead.

National Conference has broken all records of election rigging and during its rule the party has, time and again- inflicted serious wounds on hapless Kashmiris. Sympathizers of National Conference – the nodding goats of New Delhi, and the regional parties with the likes of PDP are instruments of Indian aggression in Kashmir.

Sooner the duo (Omar and Mehbooba) reads the writing on the wall in Kashmir, the better! “Kashmiris seek freedom from India and freedom from all those leaders who oppose their freedom, and all those politicians who represent Delhi in Kashmir, and not Kashmir in Delhi�. The message from Kashmir to leaders like Abdullah’s, Mufti’s and Beig’s is as clear as crystal: “Join the people’s movement and deliver, or else, you’ll be thrown into the dustbins of history.�

But, if these leaders realize their mistakes and join hands with people and people’s movement, they may create history of sorts. Ball is in their court and choice is purely theirs.