Even as the results of the Assembly elections, which saw 61.5 per cent turnout, are out, the separatists maintained that the azadi sentiment was alive among the people.

“Elections, redrawing of the boundaries or autonomy are not solutions to the Kashmir problem. The right to self-determination is the only solution,” said chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

“The sentiment of azadi has not been damaged,” he said.

Geelani said the people who have been elected to the Assembly don’t have a mandate for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. “People voted for roads, electricity, water and other local issues. They didn’t vote for the resolution of the Kashmir issue. They (the mainstream politicians) promised the people green pastures. Let’s see if they can keep those promises,” he said.

Geelani criticised some politicians who had said that the high voter turnout was a “vote for democracy”.

“The Centre’s claim regarding democracy is hollow. Democracy means that every individual should have the freedom to have personal views,” he said. “Since the beginning of the elections, we have been put under house arrest and have not been allowed to offer even the Friday prayers,” he said.

Reiterating the separatist stand, he said the “freedom struggle” will continue. “We will chalk out a method to carry forward the struggle after discussing it fully,” he said.

Though the separatists stayed away from the polls, it seems they watched the results closely.

“The National Conference has emerged as the largest party and the PDP has also won more seats than the last time,” said Geelani when asked for his reaction after results were declared. “It appears that the NC and the Congress will form a coalition government,” he said.

... contd.