SRINAGAR: The latest rift between parallel factions of Hurriyat Conference has triggered fear of their anti-election campaign losing steam. Some sections believe people feel dejected and may vote out of disappointment but others say the public response to elections has always been determined by the mood Pakistan sets. However the people at large feel anguished over the bickering that was sparked by a revelation by Syed Ali Geelani in which he said Narendra Modi had sent feelers to him. He had also hinted that some separatists had also met with Modi’s emissaries “resulting in their soft corner for BJP.”
“Hurriyat camp is already divided and now this infighting is making it ever more fragmented. Hurriyat is losing credibility and people are also losing faith in leadership. So, it will weaken their appeal for poll boycott, Noor Muhammad Baba, who is a Political Science professor at the University of Kashmir, said.
Stating that the leaders must lead by example, Professor Baba said, Those who are committed to separatist movement will surely not vote.
Mirwaiz has already repulsed Geelani’s claim saying, It is deliberate attempt to mislead the people and sow the seeds of discord.”
Mirwaiz further said , “Geelani has often issued such statements. We want to ask whom he wants to get killed this time.
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 arent running boycott campaign. Geelani himself is ill but his stature has appeal. So, it will not have any effect on 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 said
The Anantnag constituency is going for polls on 24 April, Srinagar constituency on 30 April and Baramulla on 30 April. (Adil Lateef/GNS)
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