Author: Tariq Bhat
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: January 5, 2001
Adding its voice to the increasingly
vocal fundamentalist fringe in the Valley, the hardline all-women group,
the pro-Pakistan Dukhtaran-e-Milat (daughters of the extended Muslim nation)
today warned moderate Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone of dire consequences
``in case he did not rein in his tongue'' against ``foreign militants and
Islam.''
In a rare public appearance, her
first in over a year, the burqa-clad Dukhtaran chief, Asiya Andrabi, also
accused Hizbul Mujahideen chief commander Abdul Majid Dar -- the man who
announced the ceasefire last year -- of being in league with the government
of India.
And in a strident defence of Syed
Ali Shah Geelani, she said that the Kashmir movement didn't belong only
to Kashmiris but to foreign militants as well who are ``laying down their
lives.''
Andrabi recently attacked Lone for
his statements against the foreign mercenaries. She had even contested
Lone's religious beliefs by saying that he floated ``the No God Federation''
in Kashmir.
The extremist leader had recently
said that Muslim men should go forpolygamy in view of the ``genocide unleashed
by India'' adding that she wished to set a precedent by allowing her husband
to marry morewomen especially those who have lost their spouses.
The unexpected press conference
today took the media by surprise whenDukhtaran cadres huddled reporters
into waiting vehicles at the pressenclave and guided them to a downtown
neighbourhood in Srinagar.
Photographers jostled to get a shot
of the chief and her colleagues, all in purdah.
Asiya claimed that some mediators
from New Delhi had tried toapproach her several times but they were told
only when ``India accepts the ``disputed nature of Kashmir and includes
Pakistan in the talks from the very beginning,'' she would not talk to
anybody.
Asiya's inflammatory address stunned
the reporters into silence.To a question whether she held the same opinion
about Hizbul supremecommander, Syed Salauhddin, as that of Dar, she said:
``Right now i can't sayanything about him.''
Echoing Geelani, she said the freedom
struggle now was ``not only the sole entity of Kashmiris but foreign militants
were also contributing to it in a big way by laying down their lives.''
That's why, she said, the Kashmir issue isn't a political one, she said.
``Tongue-lashing against the guest
mujahideen reflects thanklessness andselfishnes'' she said. Asked who it
was aimed at, she said: Abdul Gani Lone. ``Lone should rein his tongue
or else he will face trouble,''She warned, adding after targetting foreign
mujahideen Lone was now even speaking against Islam.
Andrabi alleged that Hurriyat's
Pakistan agenda -- Hurriyat'sproposed vist to Paksitan -- had been scripted
by India.``The Hurriyat istrying to persuade the mujahideen to accept the
ceasefire,'' she said.``We don't want Hurriyat to got to Pakistan. If they
(Hurriyat) are going there to persuade the Jaish-e-Muhamamd, Lashkar-e-Toiba
and the Al Badr toaccept the ceasefire, then they should know that they
will fail.''
Praising the Jaish, Lashkar and
the Al Badr, she said that she wasn't ``sure'' of the Hizbul Mujahideen.
When told the Pakistan has said
that Hurriyat leaders were welcome in thatcountry, she said: ``I have already
made my apprehensions public thatperhaps Pakistan has been reconciled to
division of the state as per the Farooq Katwari Plan. But if that happens,
it will bitterly opposed.''
