People’s Democratic Party leader Waheed ur Rehman Para, who has been the party’s youth face, was booked under the stringent UAPA in 2020 and spent two years in incarceration. Now, he is fighting the assembly poll from Pulwama.

In this interview with Manisha Pande, Para talks about his entry into politics, dissent, democracy, Kashmir’s youth, and militancy. He also delves into the Delhi media’s portrayal of mainstream Kashmiri politician – “We paid the price for supporting India.” He emphasises voicing dissent through democracy.

On the UAPA charges and jail term, he says he was initially shocked but eventually realised that it is the story of every Kashmiri.    

Speaking about the union government’s counter-terrorism agenda Para says, “When encounters happen here it is run at national level to show we are dealing with Kashmiri Muslims”. He adds that “there is a stereotype attached to Pulwama”.   

On the “Hindutva constituency” of the BJP that believes in Hindu-Muslim segregation, Para remarks that “Kashmir became a casualty”.  

He also talks about the PDP-BJP alliance and how that is hurting his party’s chances in this election and recalls working with the BJP as an alliance partner and organising events for then Home Minister Rajnath Singh. “They finally accused me of organising protests against my own government.” 

Watch.

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