National Conference (NC), after it failed to persuade Congress to form a pre-poll alliance, is busy spreading rumors that it would be forming next government in the state with full majority.
NC senior leader and rural development minister Ali Mohammad Sagar made one more unilateral offer to Hurriyat (M) Chairman Miwaiz Umar Farooq for alliance. Sagar even says that Omar-Umar accord is not an impossible thing.
The principal opposition party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is also in search of allies whether pre-poll or post poll. PDP also claims to form the next government on its own however, it is also not certain about its claims.
PDP’s internal wish can be gauged from the fact that in the past four years of coalition government, it never attacked Congress despite the fact that most of the Congress ministers figured in corruption cases.
On the other hand the Congress has not much opposition in Jammu to face. Not only in Jammu region, Congress has it’s share in Kashmir valley and Ladakh as well.
Now see the separatist camp. It is not divided into the two factions of Hurriyat Conferences and JKLF led by Mohammad Yasin Malik only. Prof Gul Mohammad Wani calls it “double fragmentation Kashmiris are facing.” There are three groups functioning on the same brand of JKLF, including JKLF (H) and JKLF(R).
Now, according to sources a new amalgam is in the offing which will be led by Shabir Ahmad Shah. Sources added that Shah is in touch with the separatist faces who are not part of any Hurriyat faction and they all are very seriously thinking about the formation of a new separatist amalgam.
In both the factions of Hurriyats, there are same parties as their constituents. One Muslim League is a part of Hurriyat (M) while as the Muslim League headed by Masrat Aalam Bhat is an active constituent of Hurriyat(G). There is one more Muslim League around and it is not the part of any Hurriyats. It is led by Mushtaq-ul-Islam.
Same is the case with People’s League. It’s one faction is led by Mukhtar Waza, an executive member of Hurriyat(M) and another by Khan Sopori, Majlis-e-Shora member of Hurriyat (G).
Muslim Conference is another brand found in both the factions of Hurriyats and outside them. One Muslim Conference is headed by Abdul Gani Bhat, an executive member of Hurriyat (M), another Muslim Conference is run by Ghulam Nabi Sumji, general secretary of Hurriyat (G) and the third Muslim Conference is working outside both the factions of Hurriyat and is led by Shabir Ahmad Dar.
Separatist women are also divided and they too are working on the same brand claiming their group as the real. Muslim Khawatin Markaz led by Yasmin Raja is a part of Hurriyat (M) while as Muslim Khawatin Markaz led by Zamarud Habib is functioning with Hurriyat (G).
Both the factions of Hurriyat Conference claim that they are the amalgams of so many separatist groups. “Hurriyat conference is comprised of ten constituents and every constituent has a membership in the Majlis-e-Shora,” Ayaz Akbar, spokesman of Hurriyat (G) informed Kashmir Life.
But Hurriyat Conference (M) claims that it is comprised of more than twenty constituents including social and religious groups apart from political parties. “Hurriyat Conference has more than twenty constituents including some religious parties and employees groups,” Media advisor to Hurriyat (M), Shahid-ul-Islam revealed while talking to Kashmir Life.
Dr Sheikh Showkat says that only real parties always matter. “Everybody knows the huge number of militants in nineties or the parties which were part of the united Hurriyat, they did not make any difference because they are nowhere now, same is the case with all the little groups and parties who are active to release press notes only and collecting handful of their friends somewhere,” Shiekh said adding that the mushroom creation of political parties is not Kashmir specific. It is a part of politics and happens everywhere,” concludes Sheikh Showkat.
