Debate on Article 370 ploy to change Kashmir discourse: Malik

Srinagar, Feb 26 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik Thursday termed the debate on the constitution's Article 370, giving a special status to the state, a ploy to change the discourse while terming the 2014 assembly elections as "psychologically rigged".

"For last three-four years, debate on Article 370 is raked up deliberately to change the Kashmir discourse of independence from India to centre-state relations," he said at a press conference here.

In a direct reference to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who is set take over as the chief minister at the head of a coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party, Malik said those who made article 370 hollow are now posing as its saviours.

".... Peoples Democratic Party was created by India as it felt boycott of elections by the separatists is gaining ground. PDP was given a soft separatism agenda to gain sympathy of Kashmiris and to weaken the separatist camp," he claimed, adding Sayeed is the only Kashmiri politician who never won elections from here, but from Bihar and Jammu.

Malik, whose JKLF has the target of an independent Jammu and Kashmir, said the separatists are not interested in who forms a government in the state.

"Those who participated in elections from 1947 have worked against Kashmir's interests. All pro-India political parties here act as surrogates of Delhi. Election politics has provided lease of life to India in Kashmir," he alleged.

He claimed the 2014 assembly elections were "psychologically rigged" as a fear psychosis was created about the BJP storming to power in the state.

"In 2014 parliament elections, separatists were given a small space for their boycott campaign and it showed results as Kashmiris mostly preferred to boycott polls then. But during the assembly elections last year, separatists were arrested and coercion started.

"Plus physiological coercion was used scientifically. Media, columnists and even prayer leaders were used to spread fear of BJP getting power in Kashmir, if people continue to boycott polls," he said.

The strategy worked well and the consent of people was manufactured cleverly, he said.

"But I have a simple message to convey to Indian policy makers. You have defeated us, you may defeat us again. But I need only one chance and then you won't have any chance to defeat us again," said Malik and dared the PDP' Sayeed and National Conference president Omar Abdullah to fight a "private election" against him to prove who represents Kashmiris.

"I challenge them both them to fight against me in a private election from these two constituencies and let Congress support them. If I lose, I will announce retirement from politics forever," he said.