truth is out
| Date :01-Jul-2020 |
THE resignation of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the lifetime Chairman of the 16-party Hurriyat Conference formed to promote separatism in Kashmir, signals an important turning point in favour of nationalist narrative in the State now fast on the recovery path after the Government withdrew its Special Status by abrogating Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution of India. As he stepped down, Geelani has accused the separatist elements based in Pakistan--Occupied-Kashmir (PoK) of being selfish and opportunist to curry favours from Pakistan Government. This stance of the 90-year-old leader exposes the cracks in the separatist movement in Kashmir, and indicates a marked success of the stern steps the Government has taken to bring the Kashmir situation under control. Geelani’s resignation with an angry footnote indicates the failure of the separatism and terrorism to make any headway in the current condition.
There is no doubt that Geelani was in hibernation since the abrogation of Special Status to Kashmir eleven months ago. That could be traced to multiple reasons, including loss of official cover for separatist activities, loss of the so-called popular support to Hurriyat Conference as the common people understood its hollowness, and also the highly successful no-nonsense handling of terrorism by security agencies. Perhaps, Geelani had hoped for some concrete action from his separatist accomplices in PoK, in response to the Government measures. Perhaps, he might have expected them to devise some strategy to outwit the Government of India following the carving out of two Union Territories instead of one single entity State of Jammu and Kashmir. But when he saw that none of his expectations was being fulfilled, Geelani chose to step down, trying to make a virtue out of his decision.
This was bound to happen some day. For, when the Hurriyat Conference found that the ground was slipping from under its feet, cracks were bound to crop up in its ranks and file, leading to a blame game which is so typical of all such organisations. On paper, the Hurriyat’s base was fairly broad with as many as 16 parties having become its constituents. On the ground, however, because of a thin philosophical base, the organisation could not hold itself together in a sensible way under pressure. Kashmir’s separatist movement has not succeeded so far only because of the thin and impractical philosophical base since its formation in 1993. In just ten years, it split and Geelani became the Chairman of one faction in 2003. For a few years, it seemed to be making some negative impact on Kashmir’s public discourse. But that effectiveness started waning in the past 5-6 years ever since the Centre started adopted hard stance. Terrorism might have shown to Kashmir some bad times.
There might have been some so-called popular support to separatism in the form of stone-pelting mobs. Some Burhan Wani might have stirred the atmosphere to some extent. Yet, despite all that, the Hurriyat Conference was losing ground imperceptibly over time. Syed Ali Shah Geelani has alleged lack of coordination among various components of the separatist movement as well as rebellion in the ranks of the Hurriyat Conference. That indicates the failure of his leadership to control his followers working at cross-purposes. With the massive alteration in the constitutional situation in Kashmir last year, the Hurriyat Conference must have realised that its game may not go on for long. More importantly, Geelani too may have realised that separatism in Kashmir is nearing its end.
All these possibilities must have weighed heavy on the old leader’s mind, prompting him to step down. Of course, some more time will have to pass before the Hurriyat crumbles finally. Kashmir may witness some spikes in separatism and terrorism. But those will be only temporary in nature. The time may not be far when separatists will start fleeing the ground just in order to save their necks. Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s resignation indicates all these possibilities.