On July 29, the 82-year-old former Union minister and senior Congress leader, Professor Saifuddin Soz filed a petition that was later dismissed by the Supreme Court after the J&K administration claimed that Soz was never under detention.
Soz, who was under detention for more than a year. Soz spoke to The Wire and opened up on a variety of issues, including his experiences during his detention; the ‘lies’ of the government, including of IAS officers; the future of mainstream politics in J&K and how institutions such as the Supreme Court have been weakened. Edited excerpts follow.
Speaking to The Wire, Mr Soz said that during the past year the government did not let him go, as he was compelled to scale the boundary wall to address the media.
“There was no mystery in my case. I have always been assertive and I have been regularly demanding the civil liberties enshrined in the constitution of India. I tried to express myself as much as possible, and in that way, I am different from other political leaders. When the government, during the past year, did not let me go, I was compelled to scale the boundary wall to address the media. I must say it loud and clear that the constitutional provisions do not prevail and the police manual has been reduced to rubble,” Mr Soz said.
While speaking about his experience in being detained Mr Soz said he had a small library in his house where he used to read a lot from 10 am until 4 pm. And It was miserable to see things unfold on August 5. But then,” I spoke against the decision and my statements were published by local, national and international. It is clear that what the Union of India did was wrong and it did not learn from previous mistakes.”
“We (Kashmiri) have suffered heavily because of the weakness of the United Nations. The UN became a mute spectator while watching the situation in Kashmir. You need to know that a weak resolution cannot do anything unless a strong voice is raised,” Mr Soz said.
He said the measures of the government had “affected my democratic life”. He never expected the government would snatch away our special status. The decision was taken by the government not just unilaterally but illegally.
The Centre should know that its relationship with J&K is a give and take process. If you do not give us compassion, we cannot give you respect or willing cooperation. The intimidation and muscle power can never work in Kashmir. “Only when this regime goes, the people will get to assess the damage done to institutions,” he added.
And the government should treat the people of J&K as human beings and initiate dialogue.
The former Union Minister said, now instead of surrendering to what the government is doing, we must cry out, revolt and protest by peaceful means.
The government is claiming that people were happy with the August 5 decision, but how can people revolt when troops are deployed in large numbers and a stringent curfew is imposed?
There is a different story here and the people are angry as they did not want Article 370 to go. The government should not behave like an ostrich, because the world is watching everything that is happening in Kashmir.
“The government is going wrong, constitutionally, legally and morally. The development is not sufficient to resolve the Kashmir problem; the Union of India should first understand the agony of Kashmiris.”
When asked what the Congress party loses ground in J&K? Soz replied,” The Congress party cannot heal the deep wound of Kashmiris, given its limited role in J&K”. Congress is a national party and it cannot become Kashmir centric.
He said, “I always believe that the BJP and RSS are disruptive and communal forces, the hope is only Congress. It was our party which made India a modern and secular state. But I also agree that last year, Congress committed a mistake by not reaching out to the people of J&K to share their pain and grief.”
Even though I support Congress but there are times when I disagreed, including the hanging of Guru, were wrong decisions made by the party.
Soz says, “Kashmiri people should be given peace of mind and a chance to have a peaceful dialogue with the government. Now talking about the mainstream, it will be here but limited to developmental works. For instance, a far off village in Kashmir needs an electric transformer, road and water supply. For these things, the mainstream parties will get the votes.” But the main question is, “can they give(government) permanent relief to the people?”
He also said that he has lost faith in institutions such as the Supreme Court.
“The government lied to the Supreme Court that I am a free man, which I was not,” Mr Soz said.
I feel that the Supreme Court became onlookers to the miseries of people of J&K.
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“I was perturbed by the fact that the Supreme Court is comfortable when lies are being told inside its courtyard.”
He further added, “National Human Rights Commission, which is rubbish and dead institution. The NHRC members should go home and just take their salaries because they do not serve the nation anywhere. Sadly, the government has made these institutions weak and is dishonouring the provisions of the constitution of India.”
“I was verbally informed by a security guard on August 5, last year that I have been placed under house arrest.”
He said Kashmir was the only place in India where ideas were not allowed to be expressed
An IAS officer has been appointed as the government spokesperson only to tell lies. I challenge him to come to my residence and face my questions. The spokesperson cannot answer my questions because he has been trained to lie. I feel sad that these IAS officers receive education from top universities of the country and then get appointed to tell lies.
When asked, will the Congress contest elections in J&K if special status of J&K and statehood are not restored?
He answered, “I do not think of elections as a panacea. Elections come and go and as I said, people participate in elections for basic amenities.”
“We have problems and we will only be able to resolve problems through peaceful dialogue. The Centre should first give up its arrogance and come forward for dialogue and discussion with the people. Let us talk under the framework of the constitution of India because civil liberties and rights are enshrined in the constitution. Also, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should shun his arrogance and talk to the representatives of the people of J&K.”
He said it pained him to see judges of the Supreme Court praised the Prime Minister for his impulsive and ignorant decision.