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Kashmiri pro-independence party to contest Indian polls for the first time in decades

 
Even though participation has been on the rise in recent years, pro-independence leaders have always boycotted Indian elections · Sajad Lone, son of an historic secessionist leader, says he will contest elections 'to tell the Indian parliamentarians that Kashmiri people don’t want to stay with them'.

Kashmiri pro-independence ranks have changed political strategy. For the first time since 1989 revolt, a party openly in favour of secession of Kashmir from India will contest general elections. The party is the Popular Conference, led by Sajad Lone, who believes it is time "to unglue themselves from old, tired and failed approaches and think anew". Lone thus refers to the tradition by secessionists to boycott all Indian elections to reject Indian authority in Kashmir.

However, Sajad Lone does not support such view anymore. "People ask me who I represent after 75% of people in my area participated in the polls", Popular Conference leader has said after having promoted abstention unsuccessfully in previous elections. In a move to appease eventual criticism from other pro-independence ranks, Lone assured that "I have changed my strategy, not my ideology".

According to BBC, critics have already expressed their disapproval. The Islamic and pro-independence Muslim League has accused Lone of being a "tool in the hands of Indian agencies". AFP quotes Islamic organization Hizbul Mujahedin as saying that those taking part in elections "will be considered traitors who are selling out the blood of martyrs". Both organizations fight for Kashmir's integration into Pakistan.

Sajad one is the son of Abdul Gani Lone, former leader of the moderate Hurriyat pro-independence front, assassinated in 2002 by pro-Pakistani militants.

A turbulent year in Kashmir

During the last year violence between the Indian military and pro-independence militants picked up and resulted in 500 people dead in spite of the peace talks that started in 2004. Several human rights organizations have reported abuses by the army, and last June 20 people died as protests broke out against the Jammu & Kashmir government's decision of allotting land for the Hindu community. During the demonstrations a prominent secessionist leader was shot dead by the Indian police.

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