Srinagar, January 14
The Hurriyat Conference (Abbas) efforts to arrive at a consensus on the Centre’s offer of talks received a setback today when the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) decided not to attend tomorrow’s crucial meeting of the amalgam on the issue.
“The JeI will not attend the meeting of the general council, executive council and the working committee called by the Hurriyat Conference to take a final decision on the talks’ offer from Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani,” Jamaat spokesman Zahid Ali said here.
“We have time and again made it clear that the JeI will not support any of the two factions — Abbas and Geelani —
until there is unity among them,” he added.
Ali said JeI, which was a member of the executive council, wants to make it clear that after the split the amalgam has lost its representative character. “Several
constituents of the Hurriyat are working on their own,” he added.
It was only after the split that the JeI formally announced to withdraw from the Hurriyat (Abbas) and not to extend support to the Geelani group also.
When asked if Geelani had been invited for the meeting, Ansari said: “There is no question of that till he claims to be Hurriyat chairman. Hurriyat is an amalgam of parties, not individuals.”
However, he said he was ready for an amendment to the Hurriyat constitution that would limit his tenure, and that of his successor to six months.
Let me make it clear I am not going to step down, but an amendment is possible. Those who feel that I should go will have to follow the proper channel,” Ansari said.
He said Geelani would have to form a party and apply for general council membership of the amalgam after which the Hurriyat would decide whether his case “merits admission into the executive.”
On taking like-minded parties outside the Hurriyat into confidence ahead of the talks on January 22, Ansari said the amalgam would discuss the issues tomorrow and a separate meeting would be held for parties outside the Hurriyat.
Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah is also likely to be invited for consultations.
Sources, however, said JKLF had decided not to attend the meeting and to stay neutral.
Ruling out talks with government, pro-Pakistan Hizbul Mujahideen today described the reported statement of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on the possibility of talks between the Centre and the militant
outfit as “baseless”.
Meanwhile, the authorities have beefed up security around Ansari and other leaders of his faction of the Hurriyat.
— UNI, PTI
