Mushaal Hussein Mullick, the Pakistani wife of jailed separatist leader Yasin Malik, reached out to Rahul Gandhi, urging him to raise her husband’s case in the Indian Parliament. Malik, the head of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and a self-confessed separatist, has been accused of masterminding crimes against the Indian state and the Kashmiri Hindu community. His long list of charges includes involvement in the brutal murders of Indian Air Force (IAF) officers and the 1989 abduction of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of then-Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Mullick’s appeal, however, has sparked outrage, as many believe any consideration of her request would undermine the trauma faced by Kashmiri Pandits and play into anti-India agendas.
The appeal has received attention not only from the public but also from prominent voices on social media. Advocate Rahul Shivshankar, a vocal Indian political commentator, expressed strong disapproval of any such support. He stated, “Curious that the Pak-ensconced, India-baiting wife of a self-confessed accomplice in the genocide of Kashmiri Hindus thinks that there’s an Indian leader who will give a patient hearing to her pleas seeking her husband’s release.” He further questioned whether the said Indian leader should “outrightly and publicly reject” her request to send a clear message against separatism and violence.
Curious that the Pak ensconced India baiting wife of a self-confessed accomplice in the genocide of Kashmiri Hindus thinks that there's an Indian leader who will give a patient hearing to her pleas seeking her husband's release.
Shouldn't the said Indian leader outrightly and… pic.twitter.com/uFIS9iUo1O— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) November 7, 2024
In her open letter, Mushaal Mullick appealed to Rahul Gandhi’s sense of justice and advocacy for peaceful conflict resolution, urging him to support her husband’s cause. Mullick claimed that Malik, currently on a hunger strike in prison, has renounced violence and embraced non-violence, portraying him as a proponent of peace and reconciliation in Kashmir. She further alleged that Malik has been subjected to “inhumane treatment” in jail, making her appeal an emotional plea that casts her husband as a changed man capable of fostering peace in the region.
Mullick’s letter also highlights the severe charges Malik faces, including an impending death penalty appeal by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his involvement in a 2017 terror funding case. Despite his high-profile conviction, Mullick argued that her husband’s supposed renunciation of violence offers a path to what she calls “organic peace” in Kashmir, in contrast to what she claims is a “cosmetic peace” under the current administration.
Yasin Malik’s role in the insurgency that targeted Kashmiri Pandits and fueled their exodus in the late 1980s and early 1990s remains a deeply sensitive issue in Indian society. Malik is alleged to have been an active participant in the militant campaigns that forced thousands of Kashmiri Hindus to flee their homes, with some accounts accusing him of masterminding violent attacks and the systematic persecution of the minority community. This history of violence casts a long shadow over any efforts to position Malik as a peace advocate, leading many to dismiss Mullick’s portrayal as an attempt to rewrite a painful history.
The traumatic exodus of Kashmiri Pandits remains an open wound, and the appeal for Malik’s release has been met with condemnation from many quarters, including the Kashmiri Pandit community and Indian nationalists who demand justice for past atrocities. Critics argue that Malik’s transformation into a “non-violent” figure is a calculated move rather than a genuine shift, pointing to his continued anti-India rhetoric and support for secessionist ideologies.
Gandhi, who has emphasised dialogue with all Kashmir stakeholders, has faced considerable backlash over his stance. His previous statements advocating talks with separatists have led some to question his party’s commitment to national integrity, especially given that Malik and other separatists are widely seen as instigators of the violent insurgency that led to the Kashmiri Pandit exodus. His critics point out that by engaging separatists in dialogue and supporting their pleas for leniency, Gandhi might be perceived as sympathising with groups accused of causing devastation in the region.
Further complicating the issue are Congress’s prior interactions with separatists. Reports indicate that, during its tenure in power, Congress provided a platform for Malik and others, inviting them to official gatherings, national conferences, and even meetings with India’s Prime Minister, with some media outlets going as far as to label Malik a “youth icon” despite his involvement in violent campaigns. This approach has angered those who see it as an endorsement of separatism at the cost of Kashmiri Hindu lives.
This tension between Congress’s approach and the current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government’s policies on Kashmir highlights two contrasting ideologies. The BJP has maintained a firm stance against separatism, undertaking drastic measures to prevent the resurgence of militancy in the region. Since 2019, the BJP has strengthened its position in Kashmir by abrogating Article 370, a move aimed at integrating the state more closely with India’s union structure. By contrast, Congress’s approach of engagement and reconciliation, even with controversial figures like Malik, has raised concerns among nationalists and Kashmiri Hindu advocacy groups.
Mushaal Mullick’s portrayal of her husband as a “changed man” has added another layer to the public debate. Critics argue that Malik’s transition to non-violence was a tactical choice rather than a genuine shift in ideology. His continuing calls for Kashmir’s separation from India are seen as proof that his core objectives remain unchanged, even if his methods have evolved.
Historically, the Congress party’s approach to Kashmir has been viewed by critics as relatively accommodating towards separatist elements, a perception reinforced by its past dialogues with controversial figures. The UPA government, led by Congress, extended multiple opportunities for dialogue with separatist leaders and facilitated meetings that included figures like Malik. Photographs of Malik with top Congress leaders, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, were circulated widely and stirred controversy at the time. For many, these images symbolised the Congress’s alleged willingness to overlook or downplay separatist violence in favor of fostering a dialogue.
Prominent Congress leaders, including Digvijaya Singh and Mani Shankar Aiyar, have also made statements advocating dialogue with Pakistan on Kashmir. Critics argue that such statements have lent moral support to anti-India elements, emboldening them in both domestic and international arenas. The references to Congress leaders by Pakistan and separatist figures in international forums have fueled accusations that Congress is indirectly aligning with forces that seek to destabilise India.
Yasin Malik’s criminal record, as detailed by the NIA, includes serious charges. He has admitted to his role in the kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed and is implicated in the murder of IAF officers. Malik has pleaded guilty to terror funding charges, for which he was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2022. Now, the NIA’s push for the death penalty has escalated the stakes, creating an intense legal and political battle around his future.
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