New Delhi trying to enforce dialogue, I am ready to go to Tihar jail: JKLF chief Yasin Malik

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Yasin Malik on Saturday accused New Delhi of coercing Hurriyat leadership to meet their newly appointed interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma and enforce dialogue through the barrel of gun.

Malik, who is part of joint Hurriyat leadership including Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz stated that Enforcement Directorate notice against him in a 16 year old case is a tactic to make the leadership budge and surrender.

“Government of India nominated an interlocutor. India wants to make Kashmiris surrender through force and coercion. They have opened the doors of Tihar jail and are deviously using NIA and ED. Now it may be my turn to go to Tihar jail,” said Malik, adding “Does Indian state think that if we don’t meet their interlocutor they will send all of us to jail? They are putting a pistol on our head and order to meet their interlocutor.”

JKLF chief likened the government of India to Gabbar Singh of Bollywood flick Sholay saying, “I told you that this is Sholay picture going on in which the government of India is playing the role of Gabbar Singh and they are proving it every day in Kashmir.”

The government, Malik said failed to suppress people of J&K in past 18 months even after killing 126 people and blinding thousands and now they are targeting family and friends of leaders.

“Geelani sahib’s two sons have been questioned, his family members are in Tihar jail. Family members of Mirwaiz have been questioned and my friends are also being questioned. Now, son of Salahuddin was arrested and is in jail,” said Malik.

Recently, J&K police chief stated that families of militants and policemen should not be involved or targeted said Malik adding, “But the government is doing the same by targeting the families.

The ED has served a show cause notice to Malik, in a 2001 case related to seizure of $100,000 from his associates. The case is going on in POTA court of Jammu.

“If one Indian court is hearing the matter, what is the need of notice from ED? Our resolve is only strengthening and I am impatient to go to jail. This coercion cannot deter us or force us to surrender. This is unacceptable,” said Malik. He informed that current J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti and her father had issued harshest statement against the government in 2001 but today they have forgotten their healing touch and other policies and are walking a different path.

The ruling BJP, Malik said had no role to play in India’s independence and they were at that time working as collaborators of British Empire. “They cannot respect or even understand the spirit of freedom fighter. They think freedom fighter can surrender due to fear and harassment. If this would have been the case then no nation would have been able to get independence,” said Malik.

Freedom, Malik said is our romance and romantics don’t fear retribution.
“Romantics die for their love and those who have been the collaborators cannot understand that. This ruling party has never participated in independence movement,” he said.

The JKLF chief also lashed out at Indian media, for acting as a PR outlet for the government. “Their anchors should wear uniform in newsrooms. This is a freedom movement not any business for us. We have shouldered funerals of friends and the sacrifices are our assets and not the money.”