In this exclusive interview, senior Congress leader Saifuddin Soz shares insights on the upcoming Jammu & Kashmir elections. Discover the party's strategies for government formation and his perspective on the political landscape following the three-phase election process. What are Congress's plans? Will they secure a victory in the Valley? Watch now to find out!
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00:00The people of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir are very angry that the central government made a mistake.
00:09How can the Prime Minister and Home Minister think that they can do more for us?
00:16The farmer who is sitting at home or goes to the farm,
00:22he also says that the people of Delhi cheated us.
00:25There was only 370 people who were self-employed.
00:28And that was our income.
00:30We got that in Jadr Jihad.
00:32The Prime Minister and Home Minister will have an eye on a lot of matters.
00:36But they cannot tell the people of Jammu and Kashmir that we know your situation better than you.
00:45The elections in Jammu and Kashmir have now come to an end.
00:49And everyone's eyes are on the results to come.
00:52Everyone is holding their breath and waiting for October 8th when the results will be announced.
00:58To talk to us about politics, elections and their political career,
01:04Senior Congress Leader and former Union Minister Saifuddin Sohab.
01:09Sohab, thank you very much for giving One India your precious time.
01:16Sohab, the elections in Jammu and Kashmir have now come to an end.
01:22Everyone's eyes are on October 8th.
01:25Who will be the next government?
01:28I feel that the mainstream political class in Jammu and Kashmir
01:41will have to make a decision.
01:46And I know from a distance that the situation of the Kashmiri people is bad.
01:56There is no respect for them in the political arena.
02:01That is why I feel that they have come together.
02:07I can see this political alliance in the mainstream.
02:12Although there can be a hint of ten shortcomings.
02:16They could do better.
02:18But I can see that people are going to demonstrate their unity.
02:27You will see this on October 8th.
02:30This is my guess.
02:32Sohab, can we assume that NC Congress could form an alliance?
02:38Because they are putting a lot of effort.
02:40Or they have put a lot of effort in the elections and campaigning.
02:47Do you think Jammu and Kashmir will have the next government in National Conference Congress?
02:52Look, sometimes there are disputes in the political class.
02:59But by and large, NC and Congress,
03:04because the ideology is not very different,
03:08that is why they have come together.
03:11And probably they will be forced to come together for the sake of the people.
03:18So I can see that NC and Congress will come together at this time.
03:26And that will be demonstrated on October 8th.
03:30This is my guess.
03:32Sohab, you are a very seasoned politician.
03:35You have seen the ups and downs of Kashmir's turbulent politics.
03:39Where do you think Jammu and Kashmir is heading?
03:42The situation in Jammu and Kashmir,
03:48the mainstream class will soon realize that they should form an alliance.
03:59Because right now, the people of Jammu and Kashmir think
04:04that the Central Government is not treating them well.
04:10That is why the people of Jammu and Kashmir are angry with the Central Government.
04:18The biggest anger is that the people of Jammu and Kashmir
04:23have no respect for religion and nation.
04:26There was a recognition in 1970,
04:29because it was achieved through the struggle of the people.
04:33It was achieved as a result of a movement.
04:36And in this way, the people of Jammu and Kashmir feel that
04:41they have been treated unfairly.
04:44In this respect, they are a kind of a rain shower.
04:49They want to tell the Central Government that we are one.
04:53And our political intentions are also one.
04:58We want to remain united.
05:00And you did wrong with us that you declared 370 as illegal.
05:06And along with that, in the same area,
05:09there were some other things that made the people of Jammu and Kashmir angry.
05:14The people of Jammu and Kashmir are angry that they reformed,
05:19terminated Darbar Mukh.
05:21But the traders of Jammu and Kashmir know that
05:25the people of Kashmir used to come,
05:27used to spend their GDP funds.
05:30Whatever was available, they used to spend it in Jammu in winter.
05:35Now they could not go.
05:37And this has had a very bad effect on the trade of Jammu.
05:42Today, if you talk to the traders of Jammu or their relatives,
05:47they will say that it has gone very wrong.
05:50For 370, the people of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir are very angry.
05:55From within.
05:56That the central government did wrong.
05:59This was our right.
06:01And we achieved it as a result of our struggle.
06:06And my view is that in the next generation,
06:09the youth will also understand how their future will be.
06:15And this spark will increase even more
06:20that in the next generation,
06:22through a democratic way,
06:24through a sustained democratic movement,
06:27there will be a movement here.
06:29There will be.
06:30So that our internal self-determination is elevated.
06:34The people of Jammu are also with us.
06:36The people of Ladakh are also with us.
06:38And the people of Kashmir are also with us.
06:41That is why our identity has been snatched.
06:45And it has been done in a non-democratic way.
06:48The Prime Minister or the Minister of Internal Affairs cannot explain it to us.
06:52The people of Kashmir are politically mature.
06:55Whether it is a common shopkeeper, a farmer,
06:58or a labourer of Jammu and Kashmir,
07:00they understand that how the Prime Minister or Home Minister thinks
07:05that they can think more for our good.
07:08We can think better for our own good.
07:11So there will be a movement here.
07:13There will be a democratic movement.
07:16And there will be a sustained movement.
07:18There will be a strong movement.
07:20There will be a movement within the limits of democracy
07:23and for the benefit of internal self-determination.
07:28So Sir, when you talk about a movement,
07:31can it be a public movement?
07:34Yes, absolutely.
07:35Look, the farmer who is sitting at home or goes to the farm,
07:41he also says that the people of Delhi have deceived us.
07:45The shopkeeper also thinks so.
07:48The politician thinks so.
07:49The workers think so.
07:51The people of the market also think so.
07:53The central government has done wrong to us.
07:57And all the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are involved in this.
08:01And it is because of them that the court was closed.
08:04What did you get?
08:06Why did you close it?
08:08The people of Jammu and Kashmir are crying.
08:11They used to get income.
08:13The people of Jammu and Kashmir used to go and spend there.
08:16Government employees used to spend their salary.
08:19Apart from that, they used to get the GV fund and spend there.
08:23And it has had a very bad effect on the trade of Jammu and Kashmir.
08:27But how do you see the claim of Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah
08:32that the situation of Jammu and Kashmir has become normal after 370.
08:40They think this is wrong.
08:43The normalcy that has come here has changed in the strategy.
08:47For example, the shopkeepers or the common people who were in the strike,
08:52they must have come to know that we may not get so much benefit from the strike.
08:57So they will do the strategy.
08:59We don't know what they will do.
09:01This will be a democratic movement.
09:04It will be a sustainable movement.
09:07All the people of Jammu and Kashmir will be included in it.
09:10Regardless of religion.
09:12Our identity was 370.
09:14Internal independence.
09:16And that was our mirror.
09:18We met in Jeddah and Jihad.
09:20The Prime Minister and the Home Minister will finish it together.
09:24The people of Jammu and Kashmir will not agree.
09:26There will be a movement here.
09:28It will not be a wrong movement.
09:31It will be democratic.
09:33And it will be within the constitution of India.
09:36And it will be a very good movement.
09:38In which all the people, regardless of religion, will be included.
09:42So when you say it will be a movement, there will be a movement, a public movement?
09:46There is already a movement.
09:48This movement will be very strong.
09:50But when you say it will be a public movement, it will be a movement of all the people.
09:54You refute what the Prime Minister says.
09:56That with Article 370 abrogation, the issue of Kashmir is over.
10:00The Prime Minister and the Home Minister will have to deal with a lot of issues.
10:04But they cannot tell the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
10:09That we know your situation better than you.
10:13The political situation here.
10:15The political future here.
10:17The youth here.
10:19The shopkeepers here.
10:21The workers here.
10:23The politicians here.
10:25They understand everything better.
10:27That is why they are all together.
10:29Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
10:31Mr. Soh, now I will come to your personal question.
10:34There was an election going on.
10:36There were parliamentary elections, assembly elections.
10:38Is Mr. Soh thinking of retiring from electoral politics?
10:42No, no. Listen.
10:44There was an election.
10:46My wife and I went.
10:48Although I had the facility to go here as well.
10:51I did not agree.
10:53I voted for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
10:57I used my right.
10:59So, we should value the vote.
11:01I am the champion of this.
11:03So, the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
11:05They have to save their constitutional status.
11:14They have to uphold their democratic rights.
11:17They have to live like a living nation.
11:20They have to look after their future.
11:22They have to look after their children's future.
11:25They have to support democracy.
11:27There is no Kashmiri or Jammu or Ladakh defector.
11:33We are all one.
11:35Mr. Soh, in Kashmir you are known as a very fierce leader.
11:39Someone who speaks his heart out.
11:41There was a time when you even advocated the government of India to hold talks with Hurriyat.
11:48Do you think there is a need now?
11:50Hurriyat has become very much weak now.
11:55But why should we talk only of Hurriyat?
11:58People called them separatists.
12:05Separatists, yes.
12:07All shades of opinion.
12:08They must talk to political leaders here.
12:12Mainstream here.
12:13Mirwais and other political elements.
12:17Like our religious leaders here.
12:26We have to talk to them too.
12:28Irrespective of caste, colour and creed.
12:31Government of India should talk to us.
12:34We know our future better.
12:36We know our democratic aspiration is better than anybody in Delhi.
12:41They can't tell us this is the way.
12:43As common people here say, PM and HM of India cannot decide our future.
12:50We are the masters of our destiny.
12:53We know politics.
12:56We know our future.
12:58We know our aspiration is better than anybody.
13:01So we shall respect our aspirations.
13:04Fight for these aspirations.
13:07The youth here.
13:09The political class here.
13:11The trading community here.
13:13The labour class here.
13:14The peasants.
13:15All are united on one thing.
13:17That we have political aspirations.
13:20And we know our aspirations have accommodation in the constitution of India.
13:28Therefore we have accepted the constitution of India.
13:31And we shall fight for our democratic rights.
13:35You have been involved in politics for 40 years.
13:38What do you think is the difference between PM Narendra Modi as a leader and Vajpayee Ji?
13:45The big difference is that Vajpayee Ji was brought up in an environment of politics.
13:55So his style was different.
13:59Vajpayee was not just an open-minded person.
14:02He was an open-minded person with experience.
14:08Vajpayee and PM had their own thoughts.
14:13But they did not fight with the politicians.
14:19They did not want to make their own enemies.
14:22That is why I told him in my speech in 1999.
14:25I love your face.
14:28You are a Prime Minister.
14:30You accept Golwalkar as your leader.
14:33I disagree with you.
14:35Because Golwalkar never considered Muslims to be Indians.
14:39So I differ with you.
14:41But overall your politics, I agree with that.
14:45Because you want India to be great.
14:47You want India to be democratic.
14:49You want Indian constitutional life to get strengthened.
14:53I agree with you on those propositions.
14:56It is therefore, when the government fell.
14:59Lalu Prasad stood on his seat and said,
15:02Long live Mr. Solji.
15:04Because the government had ultimately fallen for one vote.
15:07And Lok Sabha gave me the credit that it was your vote.
15:10At that time, at least 200-300 journalists gathered at the Lok Sabha gate.
15:17MPs went from the other gate.
15:19And this gate remained with me.
15:21And at that time I said,
15:23Farooq Abdullah will have some problems with his son.
15:29But the excuse he made to fight with me was wrong.
15:33If he had asked me, he would have achieved everything.
15:38I would not have interfered in Umar Abdullah's way.
15:42I have been to the parliament 7 times.
15:454 times Lok Sabha, 3 times Raj Sabha.
15:48I have seen parliament from top to bottom.
15:52I wanted to come back and be with people.
15:56Walk with them in snow and rain and all that.
16:00Be with them.
16:02So I was that day busy with politics.
16:04Today I am also busy with politics.
16:06I have expressed my ideas at all points of time.
16:10I am with the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
16:13Particularly people of Kashmir.
16:15But was it your dislike for BJP?
16:17Or you were not happy with the way India was running?
16:21See, it was essentially my disagreement with Farooq Saab.
16:25I should have supported the proposition that Umar should rise to the occasion.
16:30Umar should be cabinet minister.
16:32I am not narrow inside.
16:34And Umar also somehow knew it.
16:38But it was a bad politics played by Dr. Farooq that time.
16:43And I proved my mettle before the bar of the people in India.
16:49And it is why the front gate was opened that day only for me.
16:55Not for MPs.
16:57MPs went out from other gates.
17:00But the front gate, gate number 1.
17:03Because when you enter, there is a Raj Sabha, Lok Sabha notice office.
17:09Then you go to Central Hall.
17:11This gate got closed for me.
17:13And there were 300 to 400 journalists.
17:17I was told recently by people who are learned people who have seen Parliament.
17:21Parliament gate was never crowded.
17:24Ever.
17:26Except on that day when I had cast the vote.
17:29So, what did Farooq Abdullah Saab want from you?
17:32Or from the BJP government, NDSSR?
17:35Farooq Saab's worry was that Umar Saab should rise to the occasion.
17:40I would help him in that.
17:42But he is not given to consultation.
17:46Sorry to interrupt you, sir.
17:48If you had consulted, I would have shown you the way.
17:50So, do you mean Farooq Saab saw you as a threat then?
17:54Certainly.
17:55See, he committed a mistake.
17:58Rather a blunder.
18:00And that time, the political class led by Farooq Saab, I defeated them.
18:05Because it was my one vote.
18:09That was decisive.
18:11And Lok Sabha got dissolved with one vote.
18:16It is a feather in my cap.
18:18It will remain a feather in the cap of Kashmiris for all times to come.
18:26Because after all, I am a Kashmiri.
18:28I belong to this Samaj.
18:30I remembered people of Kashmir who had elected me for Lok Sabha.
18:36So, I honoured them through my vote.
18:38It is for them.
18:40I told the press at that time that people of J&K are with me.
18:46Now, you will say they didn't rise.
18:49It happens. It is a mainstream party.
18:52They have quarters.
18:54And I never said the lakhs of people will assemble and they will greet me.
19:00But I said I will prove.
19:02How many shopkeepers? They will tell you.
19:04So, I did it.
19:06I did it at that time.
19:07The public opinion, the peasants, the Raj Mazdoor, the other Mazdoor, labour class, shopkeepers, students, teachers, government servants, non-government servants.
19:23Every Kashmiri, every person of J&K knows that I cast my vote for the honour of the people of J&K, particularly people of Kashmir.
19:53But they didn't give me that value.
20:24But how could he do it? I had become a hero.
20:27And I proved to him after leaving National Conference.
20:32I was thrown out of National Conference by Dr. Farooq Abdullah.
20:37From that day onwards, thrice I went to the Parliament of India.
20:43So, four times to Lok Sabha, three times to Raj Sabha.
20:48I am counted among senior most members of Parliament who made a mark and who were, who gained seniority of so many terms.
20:58Suleiman Seth was nine terms or ten terms.
21:03Or Somnath Chatterjee.
21:06Perhaps Somnath Chatterjee and myself were seven termers.
21:11I am being counted now with the most senior members of Parliament who stayed quite a long time in Parliament.
21:20Seven terms for me.
21:22That's a brilliant record. I feel very much satisfied for my achievement.
21:26So, if Dr. Farooq did it, he must be feeling sorry.
21:32I think Omar expressed his ideas properly.
21:36So, you mean Omar is a better leader than Farooq Abdullah?
21:39No, I will not compare the two.
21:41Dr. Farooq has been in politics and he has his own positive and negative points.
21:49Omar has now been quite along for politics.
21:53He has also positive and negatives.
21:55So, let them enjoy these characteristics in their character.
22:00I don't grudge that.
22:02I don't keep any misery in my mind.
22:05I sleep well because I don't have enemies.
22:09I don't recognize my enemies in my life.
22:13When I talk to people, I talk out of the depth of my heart.
22:18So, it's quite an ease in my mind.
22:22So, do you have any regrets from your political journey, from your political life?
22:28No, I have enjoyed politics.
22:32Because the romance of talking to people is a great wealth you can get in politics.
22:38Somebody comes to my gate.
22:40I send my domestic aide.
22:44Who's there?
22:45He will say two people, three people.
22:47I call them here.
22:49Normally, I travel to my gate because I will talk to them, understand their difficulty.
22:55If they want a letter, then I have to get inside and give dictation.
23:00That very time, I give them a letter.
23:03And this is always typed.
23:06But I solve the problem.
23:09I respond to that very warmly.
23:13Because politics is an instrument of service to the people.
23:22So, Saab, when you say that you are a problem solver, you solve problems.
23:29You had a very serious problem in 1999 when your daughter was abducted.
23:34How was that week?
23:36How terrifying was that week while you were an MP and your daughter was abducted?
23:40I must tell you that not only the political class in Delhi,
23:47irrespective of party affiliation, stood with me.
23:51But here, the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the people of Kashmir, stood with me.
23:56I came here and Tulsi Bagh residents.
23:59There were days when there was no space for people who visited me.
24:05Even in Delhi, I remember when I went after that vote to my home,
24:11at Tughluq Road, Sheila Dixit, the Chief Minister of Delhi, came.
24:17Her chair was called and it was placed near the door.
24:25Because the drawing room, the bedrooms, everything,
24:31and the lawns were occupied by people who visited me that day.
24:36But how difficult was it for a father?
24:39Did you break down?
24:40At that time, it was very difficult.
24:43But since the whole of Kashmir stood with me,
24:46the police also got involved emotionally that they must locate.
24:53And I must give credit to those abductors.
24:56They had treated Naheed very properly.
24:59And the statement that she gave,
25:02those five people from Ikhwan,
25:05they kept two girls with her.
25:10And told her, you are our sister, you will not be troubled.
25:15Just stay away from home.
25:17Cooperate.
25:19She was crying, but they told her not to cry.
25:23And two girls served her.
25:27There is a book written by a lady here.
25:32I forgot it.
25:34A lady gave the book to that incident.
25:37This is your Aluchabagh.
25:40She is a girl from here.
25:41She wrote a book.
25:43And I am very sorry, I don't remember.
25:47A book was written in the name of Naheed.
25:50I must keep that always with me.
25:53And the girls from Aluchabagh did a great job.
25:58They supported her.
26:00They stayed with her.
26:02And the statement that Naheed gave,
26:05it is a great statement.
26:07They proved that they were not terrorists.
26:13They were involved in the romance of fighting their battle in a different way.
26:21What lies ahead for Soh Sahib now?
26:27I have not ceased to be a politician.
26:30Politics for me is a tool, an instrument,
26:34through which you can serve the people.
26:36Solve their problems.
26:39It is why on my gate, every day somebody will be there.
26:44It may be one or two people.
26:46It may be a dozen people there.
26:48I go to them, call them in, make them sit.
26:51And then write letters.
26:54Telephone people wherever they go.
26:57Every day is a day of activity.
27:00And I can show you the filed office copies of letters that I write.
27:05Even now.
27:06Whatever social matters are there,
27:09I intervene in the sense that
27:12nobody, I dare say,
27:14nobody from my gate goes empty-handed.
27:19Thank you so much, Soh Sahib, for speaking to us.
27:22In Srinagar, for One India, Izhar Ali.