MUZAFFAR Shah, son G M Shah, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and Awami National Conference president, believes that a solution can be found to the Kashmir problem,and it can be a political solution. Towards this end, he is holding a conference -- "In Search of Peace and Solution -- in Jammu on March 17 and 18.

43- year- old Muzaffar Shah, popularly known as Muzzi, worked for TATA Steel, Jamshedpur, but quit to start his own business in steel and coal.

Politics is in his bones. From his childhood, he has been closely associated with his grandfather late Sheikh Mohd Abdullah and politics at the grassroots level. When his father, G M Shah, parted company from National Conference in 1984 and formed National Conference (Khalida), now known as Awami National Conference, Muzaffar stood behind him like a rock. He also played a vital role in dislodging his maternal uncle Dr Farooq Abdullah from Chief Ministership. When his father became the Chief Minister, Muzaffar became the president of State-Central Labour Union of J&K.

He introduced the TATA’s concept of management, labour participation in decisions, for public sector undertakings. In 1985, he lost the Lok Sabha election as National Conference (K) candidate from Srinagar constituency against National Conference candidate A R Kabli.Despite strong opposition unleashed against him by anti-India forces and the National Conference chief, Dr Farooq Abdullah himself, Muzaffar secured over one lakh votes and never shifted his pro-India plank. R.C. Ganjoo speaks to Muzaffar Shah on the eve of the peace conference. Excerpts from the interview.

The motive is to bring people from all the regions -- Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh and the other side of LoC--- on a common table, make them interact and arrive at workable and politically feasible recommendations for the Kashmir problem. It would be the first conference of its kind post Independence. Kashmiris are the main party in the Kashmir dispute, including those living across the border in Gilgit, Skardu and Northern Areas.

Some people blow their own trumpet without doing anything and some people like us work seriously. Our party was never silent. We have been very active in all the regions, interacting with our grass-root workers. It had been our silent way of functioning. But in the past three years our workers resurfaced. Our leadership, after assessing the situation, decided to act and is active now. It was our party’s decision to hold this conference.

Violence is on. It is now selective targets for the militants. However, among all the political leaders in Kashmir it was only G M Shah who told the gun- wielding youth to keep their guns in the attic and sit down for solution. Our party men are not scared of militants. The militant organisations active in the state know G M Shah’s character, integrity, honesty and uprightness well. It is our biggest asset.

No, G M Shah never encouraged gun culture. It started after the 1986 election when people were deprived of their right to vote. History is witness to it. This gun culture has taken 80,000 lives, left thousands wounded and orphaned. The guns can be made silent by initiating these kinds of processes where the gun- wielding youth can also participate. It is an admitted fact that the gun is no solution to political problems. Palestinians too picked up guns but ultimately had to come to the negotiating table.

APHC has its own agenda. Yes, some of their constituents are in favour of independence while some of them are for Pakistan. They are a divided lot. Farooq Abdullah has its own agenda of autonomy. The basic idea of this conference is to provide a platform for all such parties to express their views and discuss this vexed problem threadbare. The platform is being provided by us. Our party’s stand is dialogue and only dialogue. Unfortunately, the dialogue is missing. The gun is doing all the talking. We want to bring the dialogue back. If we reach some kind of conclusion in this conference it would be put before both Delhi and Islamabad for their consideration.

A common man in his heart of hearts is happy with this decision. The people understand that if guns would fall silent they would be benefited. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are living under the constant fear of the gun which is being used both by the uniformed and the ununiformed persons. The three months’ extension of ceasefire would certainly give a chance to start certain political processes with different political groups.

Invitations have been sent to 600 prominent personalities and we are expecting massive participation, provided the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan cooperate with us. JKLF chief Ammanullah Khan has recommended 100 political figures of PoK to participate in the conference. The participants will have to bear their own expenses. The conference is for the people, by the people and of the people.

Yes. The APHC is a force. Thousands of people have lost their lives in order to uphold its name. There is no other political party to match us, except NC. Our party is present in each village of the three regions of the state. We are silent workers.

We do not expect miracles from this conference. This is just a beginning. It will be followed by conferences in Rawalpindi, Srinagar, Muzaffarabad and Delhi.