From Ishtiyaq Qadri to Qayoom Wani, unionist leaders betrayed Kashmir: Malik | KNO

Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

Srinagar, February 05 (KNO) : Chairman of Jammu Kashmir liberation front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik on Tuesday said that election and power politics has increased miseries and delayed the resolution of Jammu Kashmir dispute. “Leadership of government employees and trade unions have played a shameful role from 90’s and betrayed the national cause of Kashmiris,” Malik said as per a statement issued to KNO while taking a dig at employee’ leaders who have joined electoral politics time to time and ‘betrayed the national cause and interests of Kashmiri people’. Terming election and power politics in Jammu Kashmir as the main cause of delay in resolution of Jammu Kashmir dispute and cause of increase in Kashmiri sufferings, Malik said that India has always used election politics and participation in it as a justification to delay the resolution of Kashmir issue and has thus denied the people of Jammu Kashmir their basic right of self-determination under the garb of these elections. He said that from 1950’s , these very elections and assemblies, parliaments, Panchayats, Municipal councils and committees produced as a result of this process have strengthened occupation on Kashmir and passed and implemented black laws like PSA and AFSPA to justify and legalize tyranny and oppression unleashed by Indian state against Kashmiri people. “From 90’s, we have seen almost every leader, leading government employees starting his career in the name of employee welfare, supporting peoples cause, working for the human rights of Kashmiris and so on but as soon as they get an opportunity, they take no time in switching over their loyalty and land into Indian lap for the lust of power, money and other materialistic things,” he said. He said that “in 90’s, Ishtiyaq Qadri was leading employees and delivering fiery speeches in favor of Mujahideen but soon he landed into dirty politics and betrayed this nation and his employees too. He was succeeded by Khurshid Aalam and Muntazir Mohi-ud-din who kept going on till 2014. Both these remained part of resistance, used to deliver fiery speeches but as their predecessor, used freedom movement as launching pad to land into the lap of India, betraying their own people and employees.” “After these two, Abdul Qayoom Wani assumed the charge of leadership but he too treading path of his predecessors repeated the same story of betrayal and treachery recently,” Malik said. JKLF chairman said that these ‘turn-coats’ have actually harmed and shamed the exemplary and dedicated Trade unionism in Jammu Kashmir which was started by a Pandit trade union leader Sampat Prakash and Abul Majeed Khan from Jammu who till last remained wedded to their mission of employee and social welfare. “Sampat Prakash worked day in and out for the welfare of employees, spent many years of his life in jails and police stations, was suspended for years but never compromised on his principles and today despite being aged, he never desists from standing for the cause and interests of his fellow Kashmiris, be it the issue of defending Kashmiris in Supreme Court, travelling thousands of miles during Safr-I-Azadi or standing against Indian state move to alter with the state subject law,” Malik said. Malik said that Sampat was so famous during his days as trade union leader that if he had intended he could have easily assumed power, not only in Jammu Kashmir but even in Indian parliament and government too but he remained wedded to his principles for which he and his fellow cohorts deserve appreciation. He said that “today those Kashmiri turn-coats who use Kashmiri freedom movement as a launching pad to grab power and enter power politics should feel some shame and self-respect and instead of justifying their criminal acts repent for their crimes.” Meanwhile, JKLF expressed his heartfelt grief and sorrow over the demise of Ghulam Hassan Zahid. Deceased was brother of famous columnist and social leader Z G Muhammad. Yasin Malik along with a delegation reached Kanitar Dargah and expressed condolences to the bereaved family. While praying for the heavenly abode of the deceased, JKLF chairman also prayed for the Sabr-I-Jamil of his bereaved families.(KNO)