The Hurriyat (G) leader denied that his alliance was funding stone-pelting, saying that Kashmiris were not liable to be misled by any one, and accused the PDP of having tried its best to crush the resistance movement in Kashmir during its rule.
“It is better to go for a decisive battle once for all than to die and bear coffins every day,” Aalam said in an interview to the KNS.
“Our struggle is in a decisive stage, and this is the collective will of the masses. The army can either kill us, or we will be rid of them,” he said.
Terming the situation in the valley as extremely serious, he said that curfews, army excesses, PSA on lawyers and large scale arrest of youth were an indication of the gravity, but added that the public response to the Hurriyat (G)’s programme had been encouraging.
To a question on the Hurriyat (G)’s future programme, Aalam said that the authority to decide on the issue was vested with its majlis-e-shura (the consultative council), but he felt that the current campaign of protests and shutdowns would continue for the time being.
On being asked whether his alliance would join the government’s possible talks with separatists, he said that the Hurriyat (G) could consider the issue seriously to discuss a timetable if India agreed to undo its occupation and withdraw from the state.
When asked whether people would have to suffer again from the disunity in the separatist camp as seen in the shrine board agitation, he said that vicissitudes were a part of the history of nations, and that a living people learnt lessons from the past to make their future course secure.
“This is what the Hurriyat is trying to do. Knowing the sentiments of the public, we are fully aware that they are faced with numerous problems, but a great cause demands great sacrifice. Therefore, the masses are not in despair,” he said.
“The masses are harassed by the presence of India in the state, and this pain will go once the army leaves,” he said.
Lauding the resolve of the traders’ community in the present agitation, he said that entire Kashmir was united in the struggle.
When asked whether the Hurriyat (G) could exempt educational institutions from hartal as there was considerable concern in the public about the academic future of children, Aalam said: “The lives of children are more precious than their education. When their lives are at risk outside, and when efforts are on to defeat us at every front to make our future bleak, it is imperative to make such sacrifices.”
The Hurriyat (G) leader asked parents to make arrangements to educate children at home.
He said that a boycott of Indian goods and products too was an idea, but that the majlis-e-shura would take the final decision on it.
Reacting to the state and the central government’s allegation that the Hurriyat (G) was funding stone-pelting, Aalam said that those who threw stones were the future of Kashmir.
“Why are they pelting stones? They are doing so because they are being forced to live a degrading life of slavery,” he said.
“When people protest, they are showered with bullets. When they speak, they are silenced with the Public Safety Act. Therefore the Hurriyat (G) respects the sentiments of the masses,” he said.
“They (stone-pelters) do not ask for directions from us, neither do they receive and financial assistance from us. They take to the streets purely because of their affiliation with the movement,” he said, adding that the passion for freedom was embedded in the hearts of Kashmiris.
Aalam asked the police not to act against their own people, saying that the nation would never forgive them.
“The CRPF has been brought here to kill, but repeated appeals have been made to the police not to target their own people. Still there are some elements who act more loyal than the king and are either involved in killing children or cover up such black deeds,” he said.
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