<p>Two days after the government announced a new interlocutor for Kashmir, WION&#39;s <strong>Kartikeya Sharma</strong> conducts a free-wheeling interview with former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah. It is always better to talk than to beat up a people, Abdullah tells Sharma, but also reminds him that there have been interlocutors before too.&nbsp;</p>

<p>What has happened to those reports? asks Abdullah.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Abdullah also says that he misses Vajpayee, reminding Sharma of Vajpayee&#39;s famous words -- that we can live in peace with our neighbour and (both of us) prosper, or we can live in animosity and suffer.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>What is National Conference&#39;s response to the appointment of Dineshwar Sharma as interlocutor for Kashmir?</strong><br />
As far as I&rsquo;m concerned as the president of the party, it is good that an interlocutor has been appointed but my question is also to the government of India. What about the earlier reports of the interlocutors which lie with the Centre. What has happened to those reports? Late Padgaonkar ji and three committees which were made and gave&nbsp;reports, what happened to them? Why don&rsquo;t they put them before Parliament?<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Why weren&rsquo;t these reports implemented?&nbsp;</strong><strong>You were</strong><strong> part of the UPA...</strong><br />
We did say and always asked as to why these reports aren&rsquo;t being implemented. Now that government has gone. Governments may go but things are there. Here is a government which says that they are working for the people, and I would be delighted if they open those books and put them before Parliament.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Do you feel that successive talks without implementation of the recommendations added fuel to the fire?</strong><br />
Absolutely. They spent two years in the state, visiting Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir and met every single person including Hurriyat and compiled the report. It is there in the home ministry. For God&#39;s sake bring it out.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Why did the government sit&nbsp;</strong><strong>on the report?</strong><br />
I think&nbsp;you should ask Manmohan Singh as to why wasn&rsquo;t anything done.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Even the present government hasn&rsquo;t done a thing on it?</strong><br />
I don&rsquo;t know. Please put this question to Home Minister Rajnath Singh. He will be able to answer.</p>

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<p><strong>Is it mandatory to speak with Pakistan? Hurriyat has made an issue out of it?</strong><br />
Frankly I don&rsquo;t think that interlocutor can discuss with Pakistan. Discussion with Pakistan will have to be with government of India and at levels they choose to do so. Whether it is home minister or prime minister, it is for them to decide. They have a part of Jammu and Kashmir with them and it cannot be ignored.</p>

<p><strong>Does the appointment show that a muscular approach does not work with people?</strong><br />
Absolutely. Doval&rsquo;s doctrine has failed. His doctrine was to beat them to the ground and do everything you can to suppress them. Every theory has failed. They thought that with demonetisation, militancy would disappear -- it is at the highest level today. &nbsp;What have they achieved? Nothing. Our tourism has died. It is at zero. Nobody is bothered.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>What would you like the interlocutor to do?</strong><br />
I don&rsquo;t know who he is going to engage with. The (union) home minister tried to engage with every national party except the Hurriyat. The home minister didn&rsquo;t talk to Hurriyat. I don&#39;t know what a retired civil servant would be able to achieve.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Wouldn&rsquo;t it provide a buffer to </strong><strong>mainstream</strong><strong> parties like yours? Workers of </strong><strong>mainstream</strong><strong> parties have been attacked by terrorists?</strong><br />
We have had this happen from 1989. Our workers and leaders have been targeted. No one cared. We will face the brunt but we will not disappear. We will be here.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>What has been the cause of the present unrest where civil institutions are failing to function normally?</strong><br />
One is the government of BJP and PDP. It has been the greatest misery that has been inflicted on the people of this state. it really put petrol on the fire and our neighbour utilised it to the best it could.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Are you saying that BJP-PDP is an unnatural alliance?</strong><br />
I&rsquo;m not the only person who has said this. Ask anyone on the street and they will tell you.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>BJP has said that this is not the first time unrest has taken place. Worse unrest has taken place in the past?</strong><br />
They failed in everything so where does the blame lie.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Present Army chief has spoken about the success of Army&rsquo;s approach in the valley?</strong><br />
I think Army chief should restrict himself to the matters of the Army. He should look after the borders of India rather than talking about other things. It doesn&rsquo;t augur well for him.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Has politics of nationalism vs anti-nationalism affected the political discourse in the Valley?</strong><br />
Who are anti-nationals? If people ask for their rights, do they become anti-nationals? If they want to speak truth, do they become anti-national? We gave the autonomy resolution to Vajpayee, was that anti-national? It is in the Constitution of India. I don&rsquo;t understand what is meant by anti-national. If they want to smash the pride of the people -- then they are not going to succeed.</p>

<p><strong>Kashmir too at one end has not been accommodative. Pandits have</strong><strong> not been able to return?</strong><br />
Who is responsible for pandits not going back. All mainstream parties and Hurriyat welcomed them. We asked them to come back. There are pandits living in the Valley. They didn&rsquo;t migrate. It is for the others to make the move and come home. It is as much their home as it is my home. They must make the move.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Is Article 35A an issue in Kashmir?</strong><br />
If it wasn&rsquo;t a big issue, even PDP wouldn&rsquo;t have been shouting against it. It is a major issue in the Valley.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Have you spoken about it with Prime Minister Narendra Modi?</strong><br />
Many people have asked and I would say that I have spoken to him and if the situation arises I would speak to him again. I have no problem in speaking to Prime Minister Modi.</p>

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<p><strong>Where does the solution lie Farooq Abdullah?</strong><br />
Heal the wounds of the people and not by force and arrests, which is being done, and talk to Pakistan. Talk to them or else it will continue to happen. Only talking to Delhi will not make the&nbsp;slightest difference. I remember Vajpayee&rsquo;s words. Friends can be changed but not neighbours.&nbsp;We either live in harmony with our&nbsp;neighbour and both progress or live in animosity and both suffer. These are the golden words. There is always an opportunity for finding a peaceful solution and I think the PM has the courage to do so and if he takes that step, he can make a difference not only to India but to the sub-continent and world peace.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Does Kashmir miss Vajpayee? Do you miss Vajpayee?</strong><br />
We all miss Vajpayee. India misses him. He is still alive. He is a great leader.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>So where is the hope for peace?</strong><br />
I just hope that the government of India takes the steps to bring peace to the Valley. They say that hope is life and if one loses hope, one would lose life. I hope for peace and prosperity not only for Kashmir but for the whole country.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Arrests by NIA also show that Pakistan is funding separatism and the terror network?</strong><br />
Nobody will mind if those arrests prove that money came from Pakistan and they used it. But the longer you hold them in prison, and hold them longer and longer, then people wouldn&rsquo;t believe you and would feel that they are being pushed for saying things. They feel that there is nothing in it.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong>Are you saying that investigations must conclude quickly?</strong><br />
Yes, it must and quicker and better. It must be fast-paced. It should be revealed to the people of India.</p>


Two days after the government announces a new interlocutor for Kashmir, WION's Kartikeya Sharma speaks with former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah

Two days after the government announced a new interlocutor for Kashmir, WION's Kartikeya Sharma conducts a free-wheeling interview with former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah. It is always better to talk than to beat up a people, Abdullah tells Sharma, but also reminds him that there have been interlocutors before too. What has happened to those reports? asks Abdullah. Abdullah also says that he misses Vajpayee, reminding Sharma of Vajpayee's famous words -- that we can live in peace with our neighbour and (both of us) prosper, or we can live in animosity and suffer. What is National Conference's response to the appointment of Dineshwar Sharma as interlocutor for Kashmir? As far as I’m concerned as the president of the party, it is good that an interlocutor has been appointed but my question is also to the government of India. What about the earlier reports of the interlocutors which lie with the Centre. What has happened to those reports? Late Padgaonkar ji and three committees which were made and gave reports, what happened to them? Why don’t they put them before Parliament? Why weren’t these reports implemented? You were part of the UPA... We did say and always asked as to why these reports aren’t being implemented. Now that government has gone. Governments may go but things are there. Here is a government which says that they are working for the people, and I would be delighted if they open those books and put them before Parliament. Do you feel that successive talks without implementation of the recommendations added fuel to the fire? Absolutely. They spent two years in the state, visiting Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir and met every single person including Hurriyat and compiled the report. It is there in the home ministry. For God's sake bring it out. Why did the government sit on the report? I think you should ask Manmohan Singh as to why wasn’t anything done. Even the present government hasn’t done a thing on it? I don’t know. Please put this question to Home Minister Rajnath Singh. He will be able to answer. I think Army chief should restrict himself to the matters of the Army. He should look after the borders of India rather than talking about other things × Is it mandatory to speak with Pakistan? Hurriyat has made an issue out of it? Frankly I don’t think that interlocutor can discuss with Pakistan. Discussion with Pakistan will have to be with government of India and at levels they choose to do so. Whether it is home minister or prime minister, it is for them to decide. They have a part of Jammu and Kashmir with them and it cannot be ignored. Does the appointment show that a muscular approach does not work with people? Absolutely. Doval’s doctrine has failed. His doctrine was to beat them to the ground and do everything you can to suppress them. Every theory has failed. They thought that with demonetisation, militancy would disappear -- it is at the highest level today. What have they achieved? Nothing. Our tourism has died. It is at zero. Nobody is bothered. What would you like the interlocutor to do? I don’t know who he is going to engage with. The (union) home minister tried to engage with every national party except the Hurriyat. The home minister didn’t talk to Hurriyat. I don't know what a retired civil servant would be able to achieve. Wouldn’t it provide a buffer to mainstream parties like yours? Workers of mainstream parties have been attacked by terrorists? We have had this happen from 1989. Our workers and leaders have been targeted. No one cared. We will face the brunt but we will not disappear. We will be here. What has been the cause of the present unrest where civil institutions are failing to function normally? One is the government of BJP and PDP. It has been the greatest misery that has been inflicted on the people of this state. it really put petrol on the fire and our neighbour utilised it to the best it could. Are you saying that BJP-PDP is an unnatural alliance? I’m not the only person who has said this. Ask anyone on the street and they will tell you. BJP has said that this is not the first time unrest has taken place. Worse unrest has taken place in the past? They failed in everything so where does the blame lie. Present Army chief has spoken about the success of Army’s approach in the valley? I think Army chief should restrict himself to the matters of the Army. He should look after the borders of India rather than talking about other things. It doesn’t augur well for him. Has politics of nationalism vs anti-nationalism affected the political discourse in the Valley? Who are anti-nationals? If people ask for their rights, do they become anti-nationals? If they want to speak truth, do they become anti-national? We gave the autonomy resolution to Vajpayee, was that anti-national? It is in the Constitution of India. I don’t understand what is meant by anti-national. If they want to smash the pride of the people -- then they are not going to succeed. Kashmir too at one end has not been accommodative. Pandits have not been able to return? Who is responsible for pandits not going back. All mainstream parties and Hurriyat welcomed them. We asked them to come back. There are pandits living in the Valley. They didn’t migrate. It is for the others to make the move and come home. It is as much their home as it is my home. They must make the move. Is Article 35A an issue in Kashmir? If it wasn’t a big issue, even PDP wouldn’t have been shouting against it. It is a major issue in the Valley. Have you spoken about it with Prime Minister Narendra Modi? Many people have asked and I would say that I have spoken to him and if the situation arises I would speak to him again. I have no problem in speaking to Prime Minister Modi. If people ask for their rights, do they become anti-nationals? If they want to speak truth, do they become anti-national? × Where does the solution lie Farooq Abdullah? Heal the wounds of the people and not by force and arrests, which is being done, and talk to Pakistan. Talk to them or else it will continue to happen. Only talking to Delhi will not make the slightest difference. I remember Vajpayee’s words. Friends can be changed but not neighbours. We either live in harmony with our neighbour and both progress or live in animosity and both suffer. These are the golden words. There is always an opportunity for finding a peaceful solution and I think the PM has the courage to do so and if he takes that step, he can make a difference not only to India but to the sub-continent and world peace. Does Kashmir miss Vajpayee? Do you miss Vajpayee? We all miss Vajpayee. India misses him. He is still alive. He is a great leader. So where is the hope for peace? I just hope that the government of India takes the steps to bring peace to the Valley. They say that hope is life and if one loses hope, one would lose life. I hope for peace and prosperity not only for Kashmir but for the whole country. Arrests by NIA also show that Pakistan is funding separatism and the terror network? Nobody will mind if those arrests prove that money came from Pakistan and they used it. But the longer you hold them in prison, and hold them longer and longer, then people wouldn’t believe you and would feel that they are being pushed for saying things. They feel that there is nothing in it. Are you saying that investigations must conclude quickly? Yes, it must and quicker and better. It must be fast-paced. It should be revealed to the people of India.

The Ajit Doval doctrine has failed: Farooq Abdullah

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The Ajit Doval doctrine has failed: Farooq Abdullah