In a heart-breaking appeal to the conscience of humankind, Kashmir patriot Yasin Malik -political prisoner and leader of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front through a letter from the Death row of New Delhi’s Tihar jail, has declared that he will start a Fast-Unto-Death from 1 April 2020 should the Indian political and legal system not respond to his plea for a judicious justice-delivering system. Expressing fully solidarity with Yasin Malik for holding his head high, even in the most trying circumstances, World Sikh News reproduces here the full Open Letter which is a scathing indictment showing how the security establishment, the Indian judiciary, the highest leadership up to Prime Ministers of the country colluded to harass, torture, maltreat and cheat him through lies and subterfuge to bring him today to a pass where he is forced to lead himself to death. Will India’s political players and international leaders intervene? 

YASIN MALIK’S YOUNGER SISTER AAMINA, ELDER SISTER AABIDA AND MOTHER AATIKA, while addressing the media in Srinagar said, “We are living a troubled life. His health is really bad. He has a 30-year-old false case foisted on him. He is being maltreated and not given proper medicine knowing fully well that his heart condition is bad. He is not produced in court and video-conferencing works only one way.”  His anxious wife Mushaal Hussein Mullick has tweeted about his decision to go on a fast unto death.

In a 30-year-old case of the deaths of 4 Indian Airforce personnel including Squadron leader Ravi Khanna on 25 January  1990, a TADA court in Jammu has framed charges against Yasin Malik, Ali Mohd Mir, Manzoor Ahmed Sofi alias Mushtafa, Javed Ahmed Mir alias Nalka, Nanaji alias Saleem, Javed Ahmed Zarger and Shoukat Ahmed Bakshi for offences under Sections  302, 307 RPC, Section 3 (3) and Section 4(1) of TADA Act, 1987 and Section 7/27 of Arms Act 1959 r/w Section 120- B of RPC. Yasin Malik told the court that he was not guilty and that it was a fabricated case.

Kashmiri nationalist leaders are behind bars. Human rights defenders and civil society need to take immediate action and intervene.  Read the full letter here:

From: Muhammad Yasin Malik  

                                                                                    Tihar Jail 7 Delhi India    

Dated: 19th March 2020 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

With due respect, I was arrested in 1986 when I was a 12th class student on a charge of publishing stickers of Independent Kashmir. I was sent to red sixteen-interrogation centre for 15 days and then three months in Police lock-up. When I was released, I formed a student organisation, namely Islamic Students League. It was the most famous student organisation in Kashmir.

In the year 1986, a political forum came into existence in Jammu Kashmir namely Muslim United Front (MUF). It was a forum of different religious, political and social organisations. MUF invited Islamic students League to become constituent of this forum and we accepted this invitation. I was chosen to represent our organisation in the executive council of Muslim United Front (MUF). J&K assembly elections were scheduled In March 1987.

In executive meeting of Muslim United Front, there was a debate about contesting in these elections. MUF decided that in case of winning these elections, it will bring a resolution in JK assembly for resolution of the Kashmir dispute. ISL told MUF, that though it was ready to support MUF in elections, but will not field any candidate to contest. ISL supported MUF election campaign and people of Jammu Kashmir in general voted for it but on the result date, the winners were declared as loser, and the losers as the winner.

An arrest spree was unleashed and I was arrested from the counting hall, sent to interrogation centre, tortured which gave me blood infection and as a result was shifted to The Police Hospital Srinagar. It was at the said hospital where I was diagnosed with a damaged heart valve. I along with hundreds of members was detained under Black Law, the Public Safety Act (PSA). After our release from jail, we the followers of non-violence got convinced that there was no space for a non-violent democratic political movement in India.

I will prefer an honourable death instead of disgraceful life. Please note that I have already pledged to donate all my vital organs to the needy ones after my death and I hope everyone will honour my last wish in case I breathe my last during my fast.  

It is very unfortunate that the country which claims Mahatma Gandhi as its guide, a man who presented the idea of non-violence to the whole world and inspired leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and many others like these. It is a sorry state of affairs that today in a country which calls Gandhi Ji as its father of nation, not even a small space for a non-violent political movement is permitted. It is an irrefutable fact that had British Empire not provided a genuine political space to Mahatma Gandhi and his cohorts, their non-violent movement would not have sustained and succeeded.

It is known to everyone that during the freedom struggle of India there were two school of thoughts fighting for the freedom of India. One represented by Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shehkar Azad, Ashfaq-Ullah, Ram Prakash Bismil, Raj Guru and many others who believed in armed struggle and the second one represented by Gandhi Ji and his friends who believed in non-violent struggle.

I was able to collect 1.5 Million signatures through this process. In 2006, I had formal meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi. I presented 1.5 Million signatures of the people of Jammu Kashmir and assured him support for his dialogue process with both Pakistan and Kashmiri Leaderships. This process kept moving smoothly and in 2009 the then Home Minister of India Mr. Chidambaram started a covert dialogue process with Kashmiri leadership.

It is a fact that British Government arrested Gandhi Ji and other congress leaders many a times but never sent them to any torture centre.  There was a genuine political space for Gandhi’s peaceful struggle and it was because of the fact that British used to call congress party as a venting knob of pressure cooker.

When we, the non-violent political activists of Kashmir, failed to find any space for peaceful democratic politics, we got compelled to tread an armed path in 1988 under the banner of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). Whole world knows that Kashmiris have no history of violence and also that starting an armed struggle was not our desire but it was rather a compulsion.

On 06th August 1990, I was arrested by Border security force (BSF) as commander in chief of the JKLF. On 8th August 1990, I was shifted to Tihar Jail in Delhi. In the month of November 1990, I was shifted to a guest house at Mehruli, where the then IG BSF Ashok Patel, Special director Mr. Roy @ Dr. Mathur, and the then DG police J&K G.N. Sexena used to pay frequent visits to me. These officers were trying to convince me to have a dinner with the then prime minister of India Chandera Shakher Ji. I refused this offer and was shifted to central Jail Agra (UP) in February 1991. BSF Chief Ashok Patel and Special director Mr.Roy used to visit me in this jail rather mental asylum too pursuing me to start a political process.

In the year 2000, Indian Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared famous Ramzan ceasefire in Jammu Kashmir and started a comprehensive dialogue process. Special Director Mr. Ajit Kumar Doval who is now NSA of India met me in Delhi. He arranged a meeting with the then Director IB Mr. Sham Data and then national Security Advisor Mr. Brijesh Mishra separately. Both gentlemen told me that PM Vajpayee was serious about the dialogue process for resolving the Kashmir Issue. They appealed me to support this Ramzan ceasefire and peace process announcements. I and other leaders’ resistance movement whole heartedly supported Vajpayee Ramzan ceasefire as well as his dialogue process publicly.

On 24 February 1992, I was shifted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) from Agra Central Jail because my health had badly deteriorated. At AIIMS, I was operated upon and one of my heart valve was replaced with an artificial one. IB Special Director Mr Roy along with Deputy inspector general IB Mr Sharma came number of times to see me at said hospital. Indian civil Society members like Kuldeep Nair, Mr. Raj Mohan Gandhi (Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi) and Ex-chief Justice of Delhi High Court, Rajender Sachar Ji came to see me in hospital many a times. I was shifted to Farm House in Mehraulli, which served as a sub-jail under Tihar Jail. At this In Mehrauli Farm house, the then Governor of Utter Pradesh (UP), the then Governor of Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Ex- justice of Indian Supreme Court Justice Madhoskar came to see me. They again tried to convince me for starting a Political route and start a dialogue process.

Late Kuldeep Nair and Justice Rajender Sachar also came to meet me at Mehraulli Sub jail number of times with the same message. They wanted me to give peace a chance again.  During this incarceration period, one day I was taken to a house in Maharani Bagh Delhi where the then Indian Home Minister Rajesh Pilot along with many senior officers especially Wajahat Habib-ullah were present there. I came to know that it was a dinner meeting.  During the said dinner Rajesh Pilot, IB officers and Wajahat Habibullah talked about the nature of Kashmiris and asked from me that as People of Kashmir have no history of violence, how had I and my colleagues turned to Arms.

In reply I told them everything about the violence unleashed by the state against our peaceful political struggle. The reply from Indian friends was that Kashmiri response to state aggression and lack of political space was justified. Indian friends also said that they lacked information and true knowledge about the happenings in Jammu Kashmir for which they were highly repentant. After acknowledging my stance, Indian friends requested me ponder upon their request of giving one more chance to the non-Violent peaceful movement. Mr Kuldeep Nair, justice Sachar, Governor AP and Governor UP and Supreme Court justice Madhorkar again came to me with same proposal separately at Mehrauli sub jail.

There were many more meetings with Home Minister Rajesh Pilot, Wajahat Habib-Ullah and other higher officials at Maharani Bagh house. American (US) government, British (UK) government and many other international players’ diplomats were on board too constantly pursuing the same idea. Everyone was asking me to give peace one more chance. I was told that if I shunned the armed path and returned to peaceful non-violent struggle, we would be provided with a genuine political space and efforts will be made for the resolution of Kashmir dispute through meaningful dialogue process between all relevant parties. Situation on ground and above all commitments from all above-mentioned parties especially from the Indian state about political space, process of negotiated settlement and that all militancy related cases registered against JKLF cadres and myself will not be pursued further provided enough material for me to consider this offer.

There were many more meetings with Home Minister Rajesh Pilot, Wajahat Habib-Ullah and other higher officials at Maharani Bagh house. American (US) government, British (UK) government and many other international players’ diplomats were on board too constantly pursuing the same idea. Everyone was asking me to give peace one more chance.

I accepted transformation without surrendering my ideology and after my release in May 1994, held a press conference in Srinagar and declared a unilateral ceasefire. I pledged to follow a non-violent path and with God’s grace till date am adhering to that pledge. The announcement of ceasefire in 1994 was not an easy job. It was in fact a most dangerous and unpopular decision. I was declared as a traitor by many. I miraculously escaped a bid on my life when I was kidnapped by some militants. Many of my colleagues lost their lives too but me and members of JKLF stood firm to our decision and pursued the path of non-violent struggle against all odds. It should be noted that at the time of my declaring ceasefire, as per the Government records and statement, there were more than 20,000 active militants in Kashmir.

In the year 2000, Indian Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared famous Ramzan ceasefire in Jammu Kashmir and started a comprehensive dialogue process. Special Director Mr. Ajit Kumar Doval who is now NSA of India met me in Delhi. He arranged a meeting with the then Director IB Mr. Sham Data and then national Security Advisor Mr. Brijesh Mishra separately. Both gentlemen told me that PM Vajpayee was serious about the dialogue process for resolving the Kashmir Issue. They appealed me to support this Ramzan ceasefire and peace process

My husband Mohammad Yasin Malik announces FAST TILL DEATH at TIHAR DEATH CELL FROM 1st APRIL 2020 …….His Open Letter to the Dead Conscience of the World ‘My “FAST UNTO DEATH” will start from 1st April 2020#FreeYasinMalik @mbachelet @antonioguterres @UN @hrw @UNHumanRights pic.twitter.com/hi0qLQTtvQ

— Mushaal Hussein Mullick (@MushaalMullick) March 20, 2020

announcements. I and other leaders’ resistance movement whole heartedly supported Vajpayee Ramzan ceasefire as well as his dialogue process publicly.

In 2002, I started a signature campaign throughout whole Jammu Kashmir. Purpose of this Signature Campaign was to promote Non-Violent mode of struggle in Kashmir and to support peaceful dialogue process which can resolve the Kashmir dispute. It took me two and a half years to visit every village, hundreds of schools, Colleges and other places in Kashmir.

I was able to collect 1.5 Million signatures through this process. In 2006, I had formal meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi. I presented 1.5 Million signatures of the people of Jammu Kashmir and assured him support for his dialogue process with both Pakistan and Kashmiri Leaderships. This process kept moving smoothly and in 2009 the then Home Minister of India Mr. Chidambaram started a covert dialogue process with Kashmiri leadership.

I, too met him number of times during that process and discussed various aspects and ways of resolving this vexed human issue. In the year 2010 an all-party parliamentary delegation visited Kashmir and met the leadership here. They visited me too and discussed way forward on peace and dialogue process.

Ladies and Gentlemen: from 1994, after the declaration of my unilateral ceasefire, I and my colleagues in JKLF have remained firm on non-violent struggle. There is not a single evidence about me or my JKLF colleagues have ever since supported any act of armed struggle overtly or covertly or provide any kind of help to any armed group. It is also a fact that from last 30 years Militancy related cases registered against me and my colleagues were not pursued by any government and all governments from 1994 led by prime ministers like P.V. Narasimha Rao, H.D. Deve Gowda, I.K. Gujral, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Man Mohan Singh to a large extent honoured the pledge made by the Indian Government in 1994 to us.

Even through the first five years of present government led by PM Narander Modi there was no trial of Militancy related cases against me and my colleagues. But suddenly from 2019 TADA court in Jammu started trial of these 30 year old militancy related cases which is actually against the spirit of ceasefire pledge made in 1994. It is a fact that People live with trust and honour pledges and covenants even with their bitter enemies.

Right now I am incarcerated in Tihar Jail No 7, booked under Unlawful activates Act. A concocted case has been framed against me by NIA too and on the other hand a trial is going on in Jammu TADA Court where without hearing me or giving me a chance to represent me, I and my colleagues have been charge-sheeted on 16th March 2020.

I have already withdrawn my counsel and will sent the same in writing to the judge, but the Judge is not ready to listen to me, and is behaving like any Prosecuting or police officer. He only makes everyone listen to his orders and whenever I tried to speak, he mutes the volume or goes offline. This actually shows his and bias and prejudice against me and my friends.

Though I have every legal right to be presented physically before the court but the Judge and the CBI at the behest of government are not allowing me to present myself before the trial Court physically. I am being presented through Video link conference, where neither I am able to hear the arguments of lawyers nor am I being allowed to speak.

I have already withdrawn my counsel and will sent the same in writing to the judge, but the Judge is not ready to listen to me, and is behaving like any Prosecuting or police officer. He only makes everyone listen to his orders and whenever I tried to speak, he mutes the volume or goes offline. This actually shows his and bias and prejudice against me and my friends.

These cases are actually politically motivated cases and the prejudice shown by the judge and others have made things worse and complicated.

Taking all these things in consideration, I have reached to the conclusion that I must go on an indefinite hunger strike against this authoritarian attitude and dishonouring of the 1994 ceasefire pledge by Indian government. My “FAST UNTO DEATH” will start from 1st April 2020, Insha’Allah. I have relentlessly worked hard for the freedom of my nation, for a peaceful negotiated settlement of Jammu Kashmir issue and for the promotion of non-violence.

I will prefer an honourable death instead of disgraceful life. Please note that I have already pledged to donate all my vital organs to the needy ones after my death and I hope everyone will honour my last wish in case I breathe my last during my fast.

Long live resistance, long live freedom….