Srinagar, Sep 15: Daughter of jailed Islamic cleric Sarjan Barkati today held a press conference here, venting frustration and airing what she described as “false allegations” made by the National Conference (NC) leadership.
In her statement during the press conference, as per news agency—Kashmir Bulletin (KB), Sugra answered questions directly concerning NC Vice President Omar Abdullah’s statements as well as spokesperson Ifra Jan. “They have wrongfully accused my father of being a part of a political conspiracy which is allegedly orchestrated by the administration,” she claimed.
She said Omar Abdullah had further leveled the charge that her father’s detention was part of an administrative plan to intimidate political opposition in Ganderbal and Beerwah, which were central locations of political interest. Barkati says all such allegations are false as her father was an Islamic cleric who had no regard for electoral politics.
Sugra Barkati did mention her emotions towards some of the political leaders, such as Engineer Rashid, who was once a supporter to the Barkati family and would literally and vocally plead for the release of political prisoners.
She remembered how Er Rashid would say “jail ka badla vote say” (revenge for imprisonment through votes), but appears to have drifted far from that, as in he does not appear to consider his own brother contesting the present political situation.
We have been in contact with Er Rashid for months, appealing to him that please get my father released. But now, their behavior has changed.
How is it possible for his brother to fight in elections when we are being punished through unlawful imprisonment? Where is the humanity in this? Is it not a struggle for the prisoners, for justice rather than seeking power or political posting? she asked during the press conference.
According to Sugra, she and her younger brother of only 11 years of age lead the fight for the two parents as both of them are behind the bars.
She had to drop school midway for the job of fighting the case for getting her father released. She also shared the problems her brother accompanies her for election campaigns, too, in order to solicit public support while their problem is dealt with.
This has nothing to do with power for us. We do not want some political post or influence through the state. Our only concern is to bring justice to my father and to the entire family. No one else bears the pain and hardships, Sugra said as her voice sometimes began to quiver to recall the hard times against her family.
Sarjan Barkati, better known as the “Azadi Chacha,” became a sort of folk hero in Kashmir in 2016 for his method of leading anti-government demonstrations. His supporters believe that he was targeted by the government merely because of his grassroots.
In this highly charged climate of the elections for Jammu and Kashmir, there is also a political angle to and usage of incarcerated figures as political scapegoats – which raises important questions over Sugra Barkati’s plea during this press conference about political manipulation.
Her call for justice presented while her family could be caught between accusations and administrative pressure resonates beyond her father’s case-the plight of political prisoners in that region is reflected in this.
All we want is that my father be treated justly, and the truth be brought out. Let it be decided by the people what justice is. Let them vote for justice, not for the likes of him who twist it for their gain, and concluded with a call to the public to think hard on the leadership they will vote for in the elections.
It’s a family story that relates to the approach of assembly elections and how it reminds one of the personal cost of political instability into the lives of individuals as well as their families in Kashmir.— (KB)
