Srinagar: The latest rift between parallel factions of Hurriyat Conference has erupted at a time when parliamentary polls are days away in Kashmir. Though the rift and war of words between the chief of Hurriyat factions in Kashmir is not new, but this time, it has erupted at a crucial time as they have called for boycott of polls.
“There is already division in Hurriyat camp and now this infighting. Hurriyat is losing credibility and people are also losing faith in leadership. So, it will weaken their appeal (poll boycott),” Noor Muhammad Baba, who is a Political Science professor at the University of Kashmir, told GNS.
He said leaders must exhibit to lead people and put their influence. He, however, adds: “Those who are committed to separatist movement will surely not vote.”
The latest rift between parallel factions of Hurriyat erupted after Syed Ali Geelani claimed that faction headed by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had met emissaries BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. “Those who said they have expectations from Modi over Kashmir issue and those who said that Modi won’t be hardliner any more after he becomes PM of India have actually met his people and that is why issued such statements,” he had claimed.
Mirwaiz, hitting back at Geelani, rubbished his claims and termed them ‘baseless and fabricated’. “It is deliberate attempt to mislead the public of Kashmir as well as freedom loving people. Since 1990, people are giving sacrifices and leadership is also giving sacrifices. We want to tell Geelani that this is the same leadership which gave blood to the freedom movement,” he had said.
A veteran Kashmir journalist, however, has different view on the rift between the warring factions and its effect on the poll boycott appeal. He says: “It is a one-sided affair. The current rift between Hurriyat factions headed by Geelani and Mirwaiz will have no effect on polling. Those who have to vote will vote and those who are with boycott will boycott.”
He further elaborates: “The Mirwaiz faction has only called for boycott but they are not running poll boycott campaign. The Geelani faction has also called for boycott but they too aren’t running boycott campaign. Geelani himself is ill but his stature has appeal. So, it will not have any effect any polling.”
He believes that ‘there will be slight increase in poll percentage’ in upcoming Parliament elections.
The break-away faction of Hurriyat headed by Shabir Ahmad Shah and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front headed by Yasin Malik has been on the fore front of running anti-poll campaign Kashmir.
But, Dr Sheikh Showkat, who teaches International Law at Central University of Kashmir, said despite the on-going war of words between Geelani and Mirwaiz, the poll percentage will be low as compared to 2009.
“In 2009, the poll percentage was little bit high because General Musharraf tried to engage mainstream politicians of Kashmir including Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti and during that election, they tried to capitalize it.”
He said: It will definitely have no effect as people are committed to cause irrespective of division between leadership.” He said polling goes high in upper belts of Kashmir due to ‘militarization, illiteracy, backwardness and remoteness’, but in urban areas will people will boycott as usual.”
A civil society member, whose group on Sunday had appealed Geelani and Mirwaiz to show restraint, also believes that there will be no effect on poll boycott appeal. “It will have no effect. The rift and boycotting of polls are two separate issues,” she told GNS.
The Anantnag constituency is going for polls on 24 April, Srinagar constituency on 30 April and Baramulla on 30 April. (GNS)