Politics

Politics of Separatists will only Annihilate Kashmir and Kashmiris

separatists

The day Burhan Wani died, I spoke against the gun. I did not approve of his methods. I did not idolize him. He was not a hero for me. Nevertheless, I was saddened by the death of a young Kashmiri boy, who could have been something else than a Kalashnikov-wielding militant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0T0u4EcS_8

A propaganda campaign was started against me, because I dared to ask one very pertinent question on National TV: “If Jihad is so pious, why the separatists and their children do not pick up guns and stones”?

During all these months I maintained my stand, while many (friends and enemies) told me to shut up.

I was called Anti-Kashmir, a Kaafir, Anti-Islam, Indian Agent, RSS Agent, RAW-Agent, a Jew and what not. The choicest abuses were hurled at me. I was threatened with death and even my wife in Srinagar had to deal with threats which told her that our daughter might have to pay for my political ideology. It was a time which tested my patience and belief.

Today after almost 5 months, I see many youngsters saying the same things and being fed up of the clueless Separatists and their Hartal-politics in Kashmir.

Truth always triumphs. It is satisfying to see that so many youngsters in Kashmir have come to realize that the politics of Separatists will only annihilate Kashmir and Kashmiris.

Mark my words: These Kashmiri youngsters will one day drag all these leaders on the streets of Lal Chowk, skin them alive and ask: “What the hell did you give us in these 26 years”?

That day, we will genuinely be a step closer to real ‘Azaadi’.

Junaid Qureshi

Junaid Qureshi is a writer/columnist for Kashmiri, Indian and Pakistani newspapers on topics ranging from Terrorism, Human Rights and Geo-Politics of the Subcontinent. He is also a Human Rights activist and a speaker at seminars at the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva. His main areas of expertise are South Asia, Terrorism, India-Pakistan relations and the Kashmir-Issue. He advises various NGO’s, European Union Institutions, Foreign Affairs Committees of European Governments and Think-Tanks regarding the political situation of the Subcontinent and Terrorism. He is a regular contributor to the Atlantic Treaty Association by writing research based articles on the potential of peaceful and economic collaboration between NATO and South Asia.