Just days after Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari was gunned down in Srinagar, two other noted journalists from Kashmir – namely Ahmed Ali Fayyaz and Iftikhar Gilani – have been targeted in an anonymous blog post for "hijacking the Kashmir struggle".
Notably, the blog had published another post – titled 'The Touts who are betraying the Kashmir Struggle' – that lashed out at Bukhari just a couple of days before he was killed outside his office on 14 June.
In the blog's latest post – 'Who is Who & Look Who is Talking!!!!' – it turns to slam Fayyaz and Gilani for claiming to be "the saviours of Kashmir cause by initiating the peace process, but on the other hand put forward the Indian version of solution and internally represent Indian interests through their so called Peace Process Initiatives. (sic)"
Kashmir struggle can get hijacked by these types of characters and these characters will get exposed with the span of time. Time and history always judge such kind of characters and every one will be judged according to their approach. History and Time never forgets who is who & what role was played!!! (sic)Anonymous blog post targeting Fayyaz and Giliani
‘Don't Need a Certificate from any Masked Keyboard Actor’: Fayyaz Responds
Staunchly refuting the accusations made in the blog post, Fayyaz wrote in a Facebook post:
They have posted our photographs on the same portal with a vitriolic heap of text which villifies and denigrates us both as “dubious characters”, men of “hypocritical approach” et al.Ahmed Ali Fayyaz in a Facebook post
He also rejected the allegation that he has ever associated himself with any "peace process", track-2 or any other "diplomacy" or even any NGO.
I have never ever taken upon myself the task of strengthening or weakening any narrative or ideology or attempted to impose my personal ideology on my esteemed readers who are from vast, diverse opinions and backgrounds. So it is completely malicious and preposterous to allege that I have anybody’s brief in discharging my duty.Ahmed Ali Fayyaz in a Facebook post
Slamming the authors of the blog post for partaking in a brazen misrepresentation of facts and unfounded allegations, Fayyaz added:
I neither need a certificate from any masked key-board actor nor will I ever take dictation under any naked or insidious threat from any individual or country under any circumstances. Those trying it, for whatever purpose, will be simply wasting their own time and energy and invoking Almighty’s curse upon themselves.Ahmed Ali Fayyaz in a Facebook post
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)