SRINAGAR, 13 November 2002 — Top separatist leader and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman Yasin Malik yesterday accused Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed and his party of getting votes by claiming to be representatives of the secessionists.

Yasin who was released from prison on parole Monday, told reporters here: “Mufti Sayeed told his election crowds that separatist rebels should come down from the mountains as they now had their representatives in the shape of the PDP (People’s Democratic Party) candidates.”

Added a combative Yasin, who has been accused of funneling money to militants: “I am prepared to fight an election against Sayeed in any constituency of Kashmir Valley, but such an election should be conducted by a neutral authority and not the Election Commission.”

Sayeed’s PDP emerged as the third largest party in the 87-member assembly, making big gains in the Valley, which is the heart of the secessionist movement. The PDP this month formed the government in alliance with the Congress party.

Yasin accused Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee of hiding the truth by claiming that the September-October assembly elections in Kashmir were “a great victory for Indian democracy”. He also alleged he was kept behind bars along with some other leaders of the secessionist conglomerate All Parties Hurriyat Conference to suppress the voices of those opposed to the elections.

The JKLF chief pointed out that after a court granted him bail in the case under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), the police rearrested him under the Public Safety Act.

“They suppressed our voice by arresting 31 leaders and activists of the Hurriyat Conference. They should have allowed opponents to raise their voices during those elections. They are still claiming to be a big democracy,” said Yasin. “Mufti Sayeed should have told the prime minister that the people of Kashmir had voted for something else.” Yasin said his release was nothing to be celebrated about as he felt his detention was unlawful and arbitrary.

He accused state Director General of Police (DGP) A.K. Suri of trying to fabricate evidence against him. “The DGP said that he had proof. Where is the proof? They said the confiscated foreign currency was for the Lashker-e-Taiba and the Hizbul Mujahedeen. They could prove neither.”

Malik also ridiculed former Law Minister Ram Jethmalani, the chairman of the Kashmir Committee that has been trying to initiate and facilitate a dialogue between the center and the separatist Kashmiri leaders.

“He is a man with double standards. He tells one thing to us and then something else to the media. Recently he said that his efforts were for achieving emotional loyalties of Kashmiris for India.”

Last year when I was in New Delhi (Jethmalani) said he had a clear idea about the resolution of Kashmir issue: ‘Give Pakistan-administered Kashmir to Pakistan, Ladakh and Jammu regions to India and let the Kashmir Valley take its migrant Hindus back and remain an independent state,” said Malik.

He told a news conference that when he was shifted to New Delhi for medical treatment three months ago, Jethmalani met him again. “(His) attitude was different. His bottom line was ‘contest elections,’” said Yasin.

He said that when he asked Jethmalani why he had shifted from his earlier stand that Kashmir should gain independence, he had replied, “Things have changed after Sept. 11.” Yasin also said India was under tremendous pressure to resume dialogue with Pakistan, “but New Delhi was playing tricks.”

“The international community is forcing India to resume talks (with Pakistan),” he said, “and in order to avoid the talks two innocent persons were killed in Ansal Plaza in New Delhi.”

Sayeed, however, promised yesterday to provide relief to families of militants killed in clashes with security forces. “Compassion has also to be extended to the children and families of militants killed in encounters with security forces,” a government statement quoted Syed as saying.

However, Deputy Prime Minister L.K Advani yesterday urged Kashmir government to be cautious when releasing political prisoners in the state.

Meanwhile, troops overnight shot dead two militants in Kashmir, while rebels tried to bomb a separatist group’s office, police said yesterday.