'We Have Broken The Trend Of Hypocritical Politics'

The transcript of the BBC Hindi special programme Aapki Baat BBC Ke Saathwith the outgoing chief  minister of Jammu and Kashmir

Nagendar Sharma: Mr Sayeed, after having been the chief minister of one of the mostcontroversial and troubled states, how do you see the politics of J&K todayafter having demitted office?

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed: We had promised an environment of peace to the peopleof the state who had been suffering for the last 10-15 years. Our thrust during thethree years was on the functioning of democratic institutions in the stateand on the democratic process. We made the security forces accountable for humanrights violations in the state and put an end to their high-handedness, whichexisted in the state before 2002. Our endeavour was to start a peace process inthe state and give importance to the democratic institutions - and we have doneit. Today, an environment of peace exists in the state. Marriage ceremonies goon till tillmidnight now - was it possible earlier? More than a millions pilgrims haveundertaken the Amarnath yatra this year. Such facts speak for themselves.

Listener from Ambedkarnagar (UP) : Mufti sahib even during your tenure,terrorist activities in J&K continued, but you adopted a soft approachtowards militancy, which proved beneficial also to some extent, and these daysIndian and Pakistan leadership is moving forward on the confidence buildingmeasures (CBMs). Do you think Ghulam Nabi Azad would follow the roadmap you areleaving behind?

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed: Well, the alliance which is ruling Jammu & Kashmirat the moment, is an alliance of four-five partners of which PDP and Congressare the major constituents. During the past three years, there has been adecline in militancy in the state. Even if there is an incident, it is dealtwith sternly, but life does not come to a stop any more. The situation is normal in thestate and the people are participating in developmental activities. We haveopened four new universities in the states and the drop-out from primary schoolsis not more than four percent now, so an environment of normalcy exists. TheCongress-PDP government has the capacity of taking this process forward and Ihave no doubt whatsoever on this score.

Listener from Paris : The recent blasts in Delhi is the work ofthose who want hatred between Hindus and Muslims. Don’t you think that thewalls of hatred between India and Pakistan should be pulled down to expose suchviolent elements forever? If French and Germans can be friends today, why notIndia and Pakistan?

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed: We have been trying since five-six years that thesewalls of hatred be pulled down. The biggest success of our government was thestarting -the first time since 1947 - of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus on April 7 this year. We wanted this Karwan-e-Aman[the caravan of peace] to run daily, instead oftwice-thrice a month so that people on both sides of the border can freely meeteach other. These measures - the bus, opening of relief camps alongthe LoC - show that we are moving on an unprecedented positive direction.South Asia, and particularly the SAARC region, could eventually emulate EUcountries, where citizens of member countries can travel without a visa, I amconfident we would have a visa free travel in SAARC also in the coming days.

Nagendar Sharma: Mufti Sayeed sahib, there is a feeling that opening of relief campsalong the LoC is the maximum that India and Pakistan could achieve, which is whyboth the centre and J&K government are projecting it as a big achievement...

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed: I do not think so and nor have I got any impressionof this kind to the best of my political experience . The whole environmentin the region has changed and people would not tolerate any diversion from thereal issue of good relations between the two countries. I have met both PrimeMinister Manmohan Singh as well as UPA chairperson Soniaji along with manyother central leaders. All of them really see it as a great opportunity, perhapsa rare one, to improve relations. The real thing is that the desire for friendship isso strong that any attempts to thwart it would not be tolerated now and I see acommitment in Indian leadership to have good neighbourly relations withPakistan.

Listener fro UAE : Mufti sahib, how much you think you succeeded inbringing those attracted by militancy in the mainstream, and your efforts likehaving relief points along the LoC, would the Congress-led government continuethese ?

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed: The earthquake in Pakistan and J&K was ahumanitarian problem, and our Prime Minister was also very keen that thoseaffected should be provided all possible help. Now, some quake-affected areas inPakistan are unapproachable by road or any other means of transport -- evenhelicopters are not effective in providing relief there. In such difficult areaswe were in a position to help the victims. It is with such an approach that thedecision to open the relief camps along LoC has been taken. So far as yourquestion on J&K government’s direction is concerned, well, this is acoalition of four-five parties and the chief minister has to carry along all thesections. I do not think that the Congress has any doubts regarding the peaceprocess -- remember, we are with the Congress, and this process would continue.

Nagendar Sharma: Mufti sahib, the new chief minister Ghulam Nabi Abad has said he wouldlike to carry along all sections, including those outside the coalition, thosewho did not contest elections and also those who are outside the mainstream.What is your reaction?

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed: Well, while talking about J&K, you have to keep inmind the ground realities. What he has said is a good step. The reality of astate like J&K is that you would have to take everyone along in running agovernment, and this is the biggest challenge as well. I think Mr Azad’sstatement is a good sign. I say involve and talk to everyone,whether they are in coalition or not. Without involving everyone you cannot workin J&K.

Listener from Delhi : Mufti sahib, after becoming the chief minister, youhad said in this very same programme that healing touch policy would be asuccess. Could you say the same now, especially when people like Hurriyat arealso reluctant to talk to government of India?

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed: My friend, look at the change in the situation of thestate, it would not have been without an internal change that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would have agreed for a bus between Stringer and Muzaffarabad. Whenwe came to power, [Syed Ali Shah] Geelani was in a jail in Ranchi, we ensured that he gottreatment in Mumbai - same for Yasin Malik. Today you see Hurriyat delegationsgoing to different places freely - all this is a result of 'healing touch'. It isnot merely a policy, it is a complete doctrine of good governance,democratisation of powers and people’s voice being heard. We made an endeavourto improve the environment in the state, and nobody can deny that.

Listener from Kanpur : Mufti sahib, did you succeed in checking militancyin the state?

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed: Militant activities in the state are on a consistentdecline now. Even if an incident takes place it is dealt with sternly now, butit does not affect public life anymore. During our three year rule, theseactivities did not get public support, and even if such elements tried to createdisturbances they were ignored by the people. Militancy cannot survivewithout popular support and it is not there in the state now. A fish cannotsurvive without water and nor can militant activities if people do not wantthem. What we tried was to win the hearts and minds of the people, our effortwas to see that people do not turn to militancy and I think we succeeded to alarge extent. The booming tourism in the state is an example of the normalsituation prevailing in the state. Kashmir is a show window of India, and theincreasing number of tourists visiting the state now have become ambassadors forother parts of the country and world too.

Nagendar Sharma: Mufti sahib, you have been advocating strong friendly relations withPakistan, is it possible and would Kashmir really benefit from that ?

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed: For the first time in 57 years, the relations betweenIndia and Pakistan are now J&K- focussed. Starting of Srinagar-Muzaffarabadbus on April 7 this year and now the agreement to open relief camps on fivepoints along the Line of Control from November 7 shows that people of J&K are now getting importance in relations between the twocountries. Buteverything cannot happen at once. I am emphasising on the continuance ofthe peace process, regular dialogue and its speed.

Nagendar Sharma: But do India and Pakistan trust each other to the extent that anyresult of ongoing peace process can be expected?

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed: Politics is an art of the possible - ofpossibilities and making things possible.  If both thecountries are coming close to each other, it is because of the ground realityprevailing in India and Pakistan. There is a strong desire for friendship amongthe people on both sides. It is now a compulsion for the ruling establishmentson both sides as people are forcing them to have friendly relations. It is areality which is now being realised. This is a window of opportunity and agolden chance which cannot be allowed to go waste by either country. 

It is afact that at the moment both countries have hard positions. India has its ownview on J&K and so has Pakistan. In such a scenario, it is not important thatall that is being talked about between the two countries be made public before time. Ifeel that a concrete progress on the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan isvery much in the offing. I am hopeful that a picture would emerge in the comingdays which would help in both countries moving away from the status-quo andeventually leading to break it. This would happen gradually and not in one go.

Listener from Jammu : Sir what is the future of Ghulam Nabi Azad ledCongress-PDP government in the state?

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed: Congress and PDP came together on certain issues.This is a programmatic alliance, in which we have other partners also. I seethis government continuing smoothly, as both Congress and PDP have matureleadership in the state, they would adhere to the programme promised to thepeople of the state. This vehicle would continue to roll on and would not sitidle. I am optimistic and I do not think the Congress party would deviate fromthe alliance programme. All of us are together for the well being of the state.

Nagendar Sharma: Mufti sahib what is your future role in politics ?

Mufti Mohammad Sayeed: Well, I am in politics since 1959 - you must understand, Ihave been in the thick of things for almost five decades now. The PDP has goodexisting and emerging leaders who would take the party forward. No politicalwork would stop, irrespective of whether I am around or not.

Nagendar Sharma: Would the PDP resort to open criticism of its senior alliancepartner if the Congress deviated from the common minimum programme?

Mufti Mohammad Sayed: It is for the party president Mehbooba Mufti and hercolleagues to decide. I have told them that the manifesto which we have tried toimplement should continue. It is the people's agenda which we have followedthere, and there should be no compromise with that. It has happened for the first time inJ&K that a ruling party continued to speak on issues which it used to whileit was in opposition. We have broken the trend of hypocritical politics in thestate.