Author: Seema Mustafa
Publication: The Asian Age
Date: October 2, 2002
Hizbul Mujahideen leader Syed Salahuddin,
whose survival as an extremist is directly linked to his ability to keep
his hate-India campaign going, has no reservations about allowing his sons
to use government facilities in Jammu and Kashmir.
The "oppressive" government of India
and the "puppet" government of Jammu and Kashmir are looking after his
sons, one of whom is in government service and the other has been given
admission in a recognised government medical college at the instance of
Indian authorities.
Srinagar circles were buzzing with
this information with journalists and political workers wondering at anti-India
extremists who have no hesitation seeking government patronage when it
comes to their families.
Syed Salahuddin, who has been directing
his jihadis to indulge in violence in Jammu and Kashmir and issuing threats
against all those participating in the state polls, has shown no signs
of discomfiture when his son's admission was facilitated, by government
authorities, into Srinagar Medical College. He was earlier admitted to
a little known private medical college that is not recognised by the government.
Syed Salahuddin has left his entire
family back in the Kashmir Valley. He has four sons. One other son is reportedly
working in a government hospital. It could not be immediately confirmed
whether he is also a government employee, although sources in Srinagar
maintained that he was drawing his salary from the state government.
Syed Salahuddin, who has used his
extremist group to pressure innocent people from voting or supporting the
government, has shown no reservations about the fact that at least two
of his own sons are direct beneficiaries of the same government he opposes.
Pro-Pakistan Hurriyat leader Ali
Shah Geelani, at present in jail, is also known to have received his pension
as a former legislator from the government for several years although it
could not be confirmed whether he is still a recipient.
He has two sons, one of whom is
a doctor in Pakistan where he got admission in a prestigious medical college
after several entrance tests he had taken in Dubai and UK failed to secure
him a seat. The second son was with the Divisional Forest Office in Jammu
and Kashmir in a government post.
Mr Geelani has been opposed to the
participation of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference in these elections
as, according to his faction of the Jamaat-e-Islami, the process is a "sham."
When last spoken to, he admitted that his politics had little scope for
"azadi" and that he wanted Jammu and Kashmir's secession to Pakistan.
It is an open secret in Srinagar
that many of the leading lights in the separatist movement of Jammu and
Kashmir have close links with both Pakistan and Indian intelligence agencies.
They are taking money from both sides to keep themselves in the picture,
Srinagar sources said. "Money is pouring in," claimed a senior Kashmiri
journalist.
There is no proof but government
officials do not deny this. "We cannot speak on such matters, surely you
realise that," said an official in Srinagar but did not deny a pointed
question on the issue. Highly placed sources referred to APHC chairperson
Abdul Ghani Butt saying, "Why don't you find out how he is flourishing?"
On government money? "Find out," he laughed.
