Discussion on AFSPA targeted at diverting attention : Gulam Ali

Source: News Bharati

Gulam Ali ‘Engineer’ from Jammu, is currently traveling across the country to establish dialogue with the Muslim population of the country regarding the Jammu & Kashmir’s problems. An engineer by qualification, he is a social worker by profession & a well known political activist in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. Gulam Ali spoke exclusively with News Bharati while in Mumbai recently. News Bharati will carry the interview in parts in next few days with a two days interval, so that it will enable our readers & patrons to study & understand the situation in the valley of Kashmir & the state of Jammu & Kashmir. We hope, the interview is enough to highlight the complexities of the situation in Jammu & Kashmir, although we prefer to keep few things ‘off record’ to ensure that his security not harmed.

Mumbai, November 18 : "Discussion on AFSPA is targeted at diverting attention from the issue of giving powers to elected Panchayats" reveals Gulam Ali ‘Engineer’, who is currently traveling across the country to establish dialogue with the Muslim population of the country regarding the Jammu & Kashmir’s problems. He was talking exclusively with News Bharati while in Mumbai recently.

Gulam Ali hails from Jammu. An engineer by qualification, he is a social worker by profession & a well known political activist in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. While working with a state level political party, he realized a few years ago where the politics in the state of Jammu & Kashmir is heading. Annoyed with the policies of the entire ruling clan – political & administrative – he left his party to join the BJP. Known in Jammu as a social worker who fights for the ‘common man’ of the state, he readily invited a strong backlash from what he calls a corrupt politico-admin nexus, when he joined the BJP.

Currently on nationwide tour on behalf of Muslim Rashtriya Manch (मुस्लिम राष्ट्रीय मंच), to establish a dialogue with the different sections of the Muslim population of the society, he was in Mumbai recently. He goes to masjids, majaars & madarasas to pray for the ‘strong integration of the Jammu & Kashmir with the rest of country’. He establishes dialogue with the youth & intellectuals, mainly belonging to the muslim population, thru various means – like discussions, seminars, lectures etc. When News Bharati learned about his efforts, we decided to talk to him for our readers.

The following are the excerpts of the interesting interview.

What do you think of the current controversy over AFSPA ? Is there any merit in the case to remove AFSPA?

I personally think that the issue of AFSPA is purely technical issue. There is a system already in place to monitor the conduct of the Army. Various village leaders & local senior citizens in various parts of the state are involved in the system to monitor the army conduct. Army moves & acts with the liaison & permissions from these citizens. Further there is Army's own system of control, which includes measures like court martial. If any cases of high handedness are there, those are purely exceptions, extreme exceptions, like one or two percent. People of the state of Jammu & Kashmir are largely satisfied with the conduct of the Army.

I personally think that the issue is being raked up to divert the attention n of the people & media. Recently there were Panchayat elections in the state, which witnessed high voter turn-out. In the first place, the higher participation of the people in the democratic process has irritated the corrupt establishment in the state. Secondly, there is time now to empower the Panchayats as they were promised. But the more empowered Panchayats would mean a less earning for corrupt establishment in the state, which includes administration, police & politicians from a particular class & creed, who are deeply involved in deep rooted corruption which often goes unnoticed or ignored due to ‘sensetive’ situation in the state. The corrupt people who would be affected by the empowerment of the Panchayats in the state are the same who are raking up the issue of the AFSPA in liaison with the seperatrists. The national media should understand this fact and attract the attention of the intellectuals.

And what about the death of an activist of the National Conference at the official residence of the CM? The matter is being hushed up to protect the people who hold power. What was the role of the AFSPA in this death?

The subject of the implementation of AFSPA is purely a technical issue & should be left with the experts on the subject like intelligence agencies & security apparatus. It should not be politicized even if the Chief Minister is the chairman of the unified command.

From my point of view it is a issue, which is not related with the common people of the state.

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