“But the unrelenting and undying resistance of Kashmiri masses is a proof of the constant failure of New Delhi’s Machiavellian politics to subjugate the Kashmiri nation,” Malik said.

Accusing Indian media of defaming Kashmir’s resistance leadership, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik said on Friday that he would quit politics if media proved he had assets anywhere. He also said he filed a police complaint against a New Delhi-based female journalist for allegedly barging into his bedroom without permission and appointment.Addressing a press conference here, Malik said Kashmir’s freedom struggle is “sacred” for him.

“This struggle is our love and faith and not any business. Sections of Indian media that thrive on sensationalism and yellow-journalism are trying to portray that Kashmir’s liberation struggle is run by an army of mercenary youth and activists,” he said.

He said New Delhi has invested billions of rupees on its “Kashmiri lackeys and in (army’s) Sadbhavana (goodwill) operations” as part of what the Indian army refers as the WHAM doctrine or Winning Hearts and Minds.”

“But the unrelenting and undying resistance of Kashmiri masses is a proof of the constant failure of New Delhi’s Machiavellian politics to subjugate the Kashmiri nation,” Malik said.

He said he continues to live in a small two-bedroom house of his parents and possesses no other assets.

“I challenge the Indian media and the Indian intelligence agencies like the NIA to prove my claim wrong. If they succeed in proving any claim of corruption against me, I will give up resistance politics for good.”

On Friday’s incident, Malik said a New Delhi-based female journalist “forcibly” entered into his bedroom.

“She had not sought prior appointment to meet me and threw a barrage of questions when she suddenly appeared at the entrance of my bedroom,” Malik alleged.

He said despite his insistence that she should switch off her mobile phone and leave his house, “she was hell bent on interviewing me forcibly.”

“To hide her undignified and rude behaviour the journalist wrongly accused me of assaulting her. After the incident, I filed an FIR at Maisuma Police Station against her for forcible entry into my house,” Malik said.

“This incident is reflective of the diabolical role that Indian media has played to undermine Kashmiri resistance. A big section of Indian media, particularly TV news channels, has embarked on a malicious propaganda war to demonize Kashmiris and their sacred freedom struggle.”

The JKLF chief said the “propaganda war” is aimed at “providing legitimacy to the forcible control of Kashmir.”

“Delhi wants the people of India to believe that Kashmiri youth, students and resistance activists and leaders are mercenaries. The Indian media wants its people to believe that Kashmiris have sacrificed their lives, their eyes and limbs for a meager Rs 500,” he said.

Commenting on a recent “sting operation” by New Delhi-based channel, Malik said people “indicted in the operation will speak for themselves.”

“However, the incident is being used to malign the entire resistance movement. One person from the team involved in the Sting Operation had approached me saying some Indian people wanted to provide financial support to the Kashmiri resistance and for that they wanted to give me funds. I asked the person as to why would Indian people finance Kashmiri resistance? Hearing my response he left, never to return,” the JKLF chief said.

Malik said to defame the Kashmiri struggle, the media are “bringing into debate the lives of children of leaders like Syed Ali Geelani, who has devoted his entire life to the cause of freedom.”

“Likewise, they have raised questions about the little daughter of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is yet to join school. Questions are also being raised about children of Asiya Andarbi, whose husband Dr. Qasim has been in jail for the past 25 years, and she too has been shifted to Amphala jail in Jammu,” Malik said.