“Omar Abdullah himself feels insecure, that is why he lives near a cantonment area,” Waheed-ur-Rehman Para
He is resolutely calm for his age. At the risk of his over-zealous ideology being dismissed as boyish banter, the 26-year-old Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) new Poster boy, relishes the prospect of taking burning issues head on. Fanatically convinced that the PDP would get an absolute majority in the coming state elections, Para believes that National Conference (NC) would be the first casualty of a mass participation of people in the elections. While talking to
Jamsheed Rasool of The Kashmir Scenario
Para feels that 2014 would be a year of change and the youth can make that change possible.
We have seen you debate burning issues on Television. While you were an excellent orator, when did the thought of joining politics cross your mind?
Well politics is a bit of a family business if you may put it that way. My grandfather Abdul Rehman Para was associated with the Congress Party. I was impressed by the fact that my grandfather was able to help so many people because of his association with politics. I did fare well in academics but in academics one can identify problems, it is only when you join politics that one can help solve those problems. That is why I joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Take us through your academic career. As an alumnus of Boston University what is your opinion about the universities on the other side of the Atlantic ocean?
Well I studied Conflict Management at the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) located at Awantipura in south Kashmir. I used to write regular columns for the local English dailies like Greater Kashmir and Rising Kashmir and that helped me get a Peace Fellowship which is actually an award for peace activism. I studied conflict management at the SIT University at Vermont which is ranked as the best institute for studying conflict resolution. After that I did a course in Investigative Journalism from the renowned Boston University. I learned about the emerging trends of journalism and new methods and techniques to haul out the most vital information from the depths of obscurity. My studies in America were great. Studying in American Universities opened new vistas of knowledge for me but it was my love for the people of Kashmir which compelled me to come back to Kashmir.
Why did you bypass other palatable alternatives to study conflict management? What was the motivation behind the decision?
Conflict studies are an emerging subject in this part of the world. Future, I tell you, belongs to the conflict studies. As population increases, conflicts increase. Conflict studies teach us “Engineering for Peace”. Though a newer subject in this part of the world but it is very popular in the west. Well my motivation was to provide a solution to the conflict that the youth of Kashmir are facing from the last two decades.
Coming to Kashmir, there has been this ‘unpleasant’ trend of young educated men joining militant and separatist ranks. Does this trend disturb you?
You see there is abject lack of governance in Kashmir. Almost half of the youth are dissatisfied with the policies of the government. The youth feel alienated. The 112 youth who were killed in 2010 were all below the age of 18 years. They are not voters. Youth have a feeling that separatists appeal to them. The current government does not sympathise with the youth. The NC-Cong coalition is anti-youth to the core.
There is a saying that a politician is worried about the next election whereas a statesman is worried about the next generation. You see there is a huge gap between politicians and the youth. If you do not recognize the silence of youth, you will have to face their wrath.
Don’t you think the massive employment drive by Omar led coalition government did strike a chord with the youth of the valley?
No, absolutely not. These are cosmetic measures. The alienation in youth is too deep to be removed by such cosmetic measures. It is a wrong notion that he has been able to strike a chord with the youth. The reality is that there is a massive gap in his orders and the actual implementation on the ground level. The fact is that Omar Abdullah knows that there is anger in youth. Omar Abdullah himself feels insecure. That is why he is living near a cantonment area. If Umar Abdullah feels he has won over the youth then why does he not come out of the cantonment area?
Don’t you think Omar Abdullah put the ball in PDP’s court when he said that if PDP had a roadmap for Kashmir resolution, then his 28 odd seats were there for any help PDP required? Why did PDP fend off such an offer if it is serious about the resolution of the Kashmir dispute?
Let me tell you a matter of the fact thing. PDP, BJP and National Conference are like parallel lines. They can never meet. We can tie up with Congress but never with National Conference. A tie-up with National Conference absolutely out of question. Our policies are poles apart. Such puerile offers are ripped of mature statesmanship like approach.
Many political observers feel that all the hard work that PDP did in the Jammu region has been squandered away by the happenings in Kishtawar. There is also a substantial chunk of political observers who feel South Kashmir is slipping away from PDP. How do you react to that?
South Kashmir has been a traditional stronghold of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). You see South Kashmir is very loyal to pro-progress policies of the PDP. It is a true fact that we have been a bit lax as far as the south Kashmir is concerned. Even though we feel we would do a clean sweep in south Kashmir but let me admit that the feeling that South Kashmir is just a walk in the park is also not there. We do not let even an iota of over-confidence creep in the party psyche.
As regards Kishtawar let me tell you that PDP is the first casualty of Kishtawar violence. The more the polarization, the more it benefits National Conference and BJP. We still hope a bag a few seats from the Jammu region.
People say there is likelihood of a pre-poll alliance between NC and the Congress party. In such a situation how do you see the chances of PDP forming the next government?
You see the recent verbal skirmishes between NC and Congress is a peculiar case of shadow boxing. They are almost close to form an alliance for the coming elections. I think the 2014 will be a year of change. It would be PDP versus the rest. Our policies are pro-youth. If Youth come out to vote, we would form the next government. Having said that let me tell you that we are open to an alliance with the Congress party but not with National Conference.
Self-rule document of PDP generated a lot of debate…What is your individual opinion regarding the document?
Self-rule document is a strong document. It talks of Bijli, Paani and Sadak besides advocating a strong individual identity of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. I think this document is much better than other rotten discourses vis-à-vis Kashmir solution. Youth in particular are impressed with this document.
Srinagar has been an Achilles heel of sorts for PDP? Would the situation change this time round?
I think the poll boycott call takes its toll. If lesser people vote the National Conference is benefitted. If people come out in large numbers then PDP will be the clear cut winner. I appeal to the youth of Srinagar to vote in large numbers. I think the anti-incumbency factor is also there. We hope to bag a substantial number of seats from Srinagar. Every time election is round the corner, a situation is created which demands people should stay indoors. This time round, I hope people would be mature enough to understand these wily tactics and come out to vote in large numbers.
NC has some invincible horses in its stable-Abdul Raheem Rather, Ali Muhammad Sagar, Chawhdary MuhammadRamzan and Mian Altaf to name a few. You think PDP can checkmate some of these stalwarts in the coming elections?
You say they are stalwarts. Do you know what the margin of their victory in the last election was? We gave a close fight to Abdul Raheem Rather and he won by a low margin. You see nobody is invincible in politics. There is a huge anti-incumbency wave against National Conference. One has to take that factor in to consideration. PDP is a growing party. We hope to emerge out as the single largest party.
Does Waheed-ur-Rehman Para expect a mandate from the People’s Democratic Party? You think someone so young like you would be given a mandate?
(Smiles) Well I am serving the party in the best way I can. Mandate is a non-issue. The main issue is to highlight the pro-progress policies of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Having said that, if party feels that I need to contest from any seat I would be more than eager to do so.
Your message to the youth of Kashmir.
Young people should vote. Status quo and its advocacy is a refuge of pessimists. 2014 would be a year of change. If youth vote it would be a game changer.