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The Rediff Interview/Saifuddin Soz

'We had no mandate to support the BJP'

Saiffudin Soz, expelled leader of the National Conference, is a much sought after person in the capital these days. Right from early morning till late in the night, his telephones keep buzzing. If Congress leader Arjun Singh is on the one line one minute, H S Surjeet is calling him the next moment.

Even before the Vajpayee government's confidence motion was put to vote, the media had been full of stories about his possible rebellion against Dr Farooq Abdullah.

In an exclusive interview with Onkar Singh, Soz claims that he slept for half an hour more after his expulsion from the National Conference. He ridiculed Farooq's claim to the legacy of Sher-E-Kashmir Sheikh Abdullah. "Farooq Abdullah does not know anything about secularism. I had been telling Farooq till about midnight of April 16. I asked him to abstain from the voting and he did not agree to my suggestion. I had to take a hard decision. I would support a secular Congress led government," says Soz. An excerpt:

How do you feel after your expulsion from the National Conference for voting against the Vajpayee government?

You won't believe me, but I slept half an hour more today than I have done in the last one year. I am so relieved that I did not side with Dr Farooq Abdullah and decided to chalk out my own course.

When did you decide to cast your vote against the government?

I had been all along telling Dr Farooq Abdullah that in the interests of the Kashmiri people and in the interest of our own party, the National Conference, we should abstain from voting on the confidence motion. But when my pleas were rejected by Abdullah, I decided to chalk out my own course of action.

From the very beginning I was against supporting the BJP. We had no mandate to support the BJP. In our election campaign we had been telling people about the communal and divisive forces and how bad they were for our country. We have been telling the Kashmiri people about the secular ideals of the early 'fifties. Here Dr Abdullah was supporting the Bhartiya Janata Party -- a party known for its communal stand.

I issued a very strong statement and forced him to have a meeting of the Working Committee and take a middle course suggested by me. Even at that time I told him that it is a symptom of a disease in the party. Otherwise we must fight against communal forces.

Some people say you voted against the confidence motion just because Vajpayee did not make you a minister?

Oh, no. The ministership was offered to me on the first day itself. From the very beginning they said they would like me to be there as a part of the cabinet because they wanted to have someone who can speak for the Kashmiris and the Indian Muslims.

It was there for the asking, but I did not want to be a minister in a BJP government. All that I want is the Congress should form a government by itself. All others should support it from outside. I would support any secular government. Whether I am part of it or not it really does not matter.

Are you looking forward for a suitable reward for your actions?

I don't want any reward. I have not done any heroic deed, let me tell you frankly. The actions of Dr Farooq Abdullah show how the National Conference has lost its touch with the people of Kashmir. He has lost respect for the legacy of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah. I look like a hero only because the National Conference has lost the faith of the people of Kashmir.

Do you understand the legacy of Sheikh Abdullah more than his son?

Yes, I do understand it better than Dr Abdullah. He does not understand it because he is not wholetime into politics. He is busy in extra-curricular activities.

What are the extra curricular activities of Dr Abdullah you are talking about?

These are activities related to a different field. He does not have time to go into the nitty-gritty of things, particularly those which relate to politics. I have all the respect and goodwill for Dr Abdullah. Instead of getting involved in frivolous things if he had paid more attention to politics, he would have been much better off

Why didn't you go along with Farooq Abdullah?

Because his actions were detrimental to the people of Kashmir.

The National Conference leadership has asked you to resign from your seat as you were elected on its ticket?

Why should I resign? I have been raising the voice of the Kashmiri people in the Lok Sabha. I know the people of the state are with me. I understand their wishes and aspirations better than anyone else. I would raise their voice in the new dispensation as well.

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