Separatist leader shouldn’t get away this time
Separatist leader Asiya Andrabi must be delivered exemplary punishment for telephonically addressing a rally, organised by Hafiz Saeed, among the most wanted terrorists by India and mastermind of the horrific 26/11 Mumbai attack which had claimed more than 160 lives. While this is not the first time that she has been blatantly provocative and acted against the country's interests — she has been flying Pakistan's flag on several occasions, delivering anti-national speeches and celebrating Pakistan's Independence Day — her act of participating, in a way, in a rally Hafiz Saeed had organised, is too much of a provocation to be ignored.
Jammu & Kashmir Police has registered a case against her under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for hoisting Pakistan’s flag, but this and other actions must be followed to their logical end. Andrabi, who heads the militant outfit, Dukhtaran-e-Millat, should be tried for sedition. Hafiz Saeed has the blood of innocent Indians on his hands, but since Andrabi does not consider herself an Indian, she has no problems in associating with that butcher. It is a matter of not just concern but also disgrace that a person who openly supports the likes of Hafiz Saeed should be allowed a free run on Indian soil. For far too long, Andrabi has got away with her nonsense and with her aggression that are designed to provoke violence and unrest in Jammu & Kashmir.
Either it was felt that action against her would only elevate her status or it was believed that such a move could fuel avoidable problems in Kashmir valley. The fact is that, the more the authorities, both State and Central, are soft on her, the more emboldened she becomes to promote her anti-India agenda. State Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed must realise that his Government's outreach to separatists in a bid to establish communication with them and seek a peaceful environment, cannot include indulgence towards blatant anti-national actions — and certainly not a tango with people such as Hafiz Saeed or Zaki-ur-Rehman lakhvi or Dawood Ibrahim.
The Mufti has been receiving flak for having shown great consideration towards separatists in his tenure so far. Channels of dialogue must remain open with those who at least do not ally with murderers, and not with the likes of Andrabi, whose place is behind bars for good. Of course, Andrabi wants to be arrested because she believes that it will get her more national and international attention. Her bluff needs to be called.
There is another reason why Andrabi must be brought to book at the earliest. India's fight against Pakistan-sponsored terror or terror that emanates from Pakistani soil will be considerably weakened if the State regime and the Union Government soft-pedal on action against her. After all, what is the point in India railing against Pakistan for shielding anti-India terrorists if it cannot act forcefully against the likes of Andrabi on its own soilIJ At a point when India has prepared extensive material to demonstrate Pakistani involvement in the recent terror attacks in Gurdaspur in Punjab and Udhampur in Jammu & Kashmir, it would be unfortunate to let that get diluted. New Delhi's resolve, as that of the Mufti Government, is, therefore, under test.