Chinks have re-appeared in the Kashmiri separatist camp for the first time after last year’s public uprising that compelled the secessionist leaders to set up a loose alliance to spearhead a secessionist campaign.
A senior leader Shabir Shah who heads Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) quit secretary general’s post from the Syed Ali Geelani-led faction of Hurriyat Conference saying he was unable to function due to curbs imposed on him by the State authorities. However, the insiders say that Shah has been uncomfortable in the amalgam as he has been overshadowed by other separatist leaders.
Shah’s departure has come at a time when campaigning for the by-poll of two Parliamentary seats has begun in Kashmir and the separatist groups have asked people to boycott voting.
Shah is one of the senior most separatist leaders and founding members of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), which suffered multiple splits since its formation in 1993. After floating his own party DFP, he has been swinging between two factions of Hurriyat Conference and even briefly toyed with the idea of floating his own faction of Hurriyat.
In 2015, Shah along with Nayim Khan and Aga Syed Hassan, a prominent Shia leader quit Mirwaiz-led faction of the Hurriyat to join its rivals. However, the separatist camp’s composition changed after a public uprising erupted in Kashmir following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani in July 2016.
Three separatist leaders Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik forged a loose alliance-Joint Resistance Forum-that spearheaded the anti-India uprising. The Forum’s protest calendar was followed by the people in the Valley, which paled the other separatist leaders into insignificance. During the unrest Shah was under detention and spent most of the time inside Rajbagh police station.
Sources said that Shah was not consulted by the Forum leaders during the prolonged period of the uprising in Kashmir to formulate strategy or discuss crucial political issues.
Shah said that he has only quit the position of secretary general and would continue to remain a part of Hurriyat Conference led by Geelani. However, sources said that he is not in practically snapped ties with the faction and has avoided taking part in meetings.
Shah’s decision has come to fore at a time when the separatists have called for a boycott to the upcoming Parliamentary by-poll in Srinagar and Anantnag constituencies scheduled for April 9 and 12. Though the election process has taken off, no mainstream political party has been able to hold a public gathering except in the highly secured dak bungalows and party offices. The people have by and large remained indifferent to the poll campaign.