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Kashmir separatist leader concedes psychological defeat at hands of India's ruling party

Xinhua, February 27, 2015 Adjust font size:

Pro- independent leader Muhammad Yasin Malik Thursday conceded that India's ruling party Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has managed to defeat them by adopting a "psychological coercion" which compelled Kashmiris to vote in large numbers during the local elections in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"I give credit to BJP for making itself a villain for its national cause so that Kashmiris are made to vote in large numbers, " Malik said addressing a press conference in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "The Indian strategists defeated us in the elections but we will rise again."

Malik is chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), which advocates complete independence of Kashmir.

JKLF and other separatist groups in the region had urged people to boycott the elections. However their call was ignored by and large by the voters.

According to Malik, Indian parties succeeded in their strategy by putting pro-freedom leaders and activists behind bars.

He accused pro-India Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammed Sayeed for imposing controversial armed forces special powers act (AFSPA) in the restive region and helping India in eroding a law that gives special status to Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"It was Mufti Mohammed Sayeed who as Home Minister of India implemented the AFSPA in Indian-controlled Kashmir in 1990 and now he enacts drama to remove it and project himself as savior of people," he said. "Mufti was part of the Congress government in 1970s which allowed erosion of the Article 370."

Malik's press address comes two days after BJP and PDP announced their agreement to form an alliance to run government in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

JKLF was the first group in 1989 to wage an armed insurgency against New Delhi's rule in Indian-controlled Kashmir. However, in 1994, the group under the leadership of Malik declared unilateral cease-fire and pledged to carry on the resistance politically.

A separatist movement and guerrilla war challenging New Delhi's rule is going on in the region. Endi