Srinagar, Sep 4, KDC: Former Srinagar mayor Junaid Azim Mattu on Friday criticised the “stoic, deafening silence” of Kashmir’s political leadership over the treatment of jailed separatist leader Yasin Malik, accusing the region’s leaders of a “political and moral surrender” before the BJP and the state apparatus it controls.
In a post on X, Mattu said Malik had “abjured violence, gave up the gun and chose a path of peaceful dialogue and official engagement”, including engagement with two prime ministers, among them former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
“I disagree with Yasin Malik’s political ideology and denounce the path that he chose (and then gave up),” Mattu said, while questioning the silence of Kashmir’s political leadership over his case.
He said the silence reflected not only the “fear of persecution and allure of State patronage” but also what he described as an “abject and meek political and moral surrender” before the BJP and the apparatus it controls.
Mattu said he understood why the government wanted to make Malik a symbol of what he called its “radical ideological vengeance” and use his case as a political plank elsewhere in the country, but said the silence of Kashmir’s political leadership was “extremely surprising and disappointing”.
“What is being done to Yasin Malik today will be done to other Kashmiri leaders tomorrow,” he said, adding that the “blood-baying” would not stop with Malik and that the “collective conscience” would continue “baying for Kashmiri blood”.
Drawing a comparison with the Centre’s engagement with armed separatist groups in the Northeast, Mattu said, “While the powers that be celebrate engaging with the Nagaland separatists or others who held on to arms till yesterday they want to set an example when it comes to a Kashmiri separatist leader who gave up violence.”
He also referred to separatist leader Shabir Shah, saying the “punitive and retributive vengeance” he alleged was being pursued would not remain confined to separatist leaders.
“This vengeance won’t discriminate between ideologies. It won’t leave mainstream leaders out,” Mattu said, warning that “every Kashmiri leader who doesn’t fall in line will have a noose waiting for him”.
Mattu said a state should be “magnanimous and large hearted” in dealing with dissent and differing views and argued that the “idea of India” should be based on reconciliation rather than retribution.
“If the idea of India is reconciliatory when it comes to the North East, why must it be retributive when it comes to Kashmir?” he asked.
Calling on Kashmir’s political leadership to speak up, Mattu said the effort should begin with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
“Our leadership must shed this cowardice and speak up. Starting with the Chief Minister! We must seek reconciliation and healing without being afraid,” he said.
“A nation aspiring for greatness and prosperity cannot live in the past forever,” Mattu said, calling for a future of “peace and engagement” regardless of how unpalatable it may be to those in power.
“Silence is shameful and those who remain silent are complicit,” he said. (KDC)
