Tribune News ServiceSRINAGAR, Nov 24 — Several political parties have hailed the Hurriyat’s response to the Centre’s offer of ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir beginning with the holy month of Ramzan from Monday. The guarded but appreciating statement of the Hurriyat Conference came after day-long deliberations here by the executive members of the APHC on Tuesday last, two days after the announcement of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee about the ceasefire in the trouble-torn state.
“The APHC statement indicates certain, significant though half-hearted, changes in their approach. Their assertion for peace is a positive step which deserves to be appreciated” stated Mr M.Y. Tarigami, state secretary of the CPM. He expressed hope that the APHC leadership would be more forthright and constructive in their stand for the well being of the people, who have been victims of violence for over a decade.
The Hurriyat Conference had earlier cold shouldered the unilateral ceasefire offer of the Hizbul Mujahideen, which announced it for three months with effect from July 24 last. The ceasefire was later withdrawn only on August 8, following the “failure of talks” between the militants and Union Home Ministry officers. The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, described the Hurriyat’s positive response to the Centre’s offer as a significant development. He said this signified a change in their thinking towards the Kashmir problem.
All-Party Hurriyat Conference, a conglomeration of 23 separatist organisations, had, on Tuesday last guardedly welcomed the offer of the Prime Minister, terming it as a “positive change” in the policy of the government towards Kashmir issue. In its statement, a spokesman of the Hurriyat Conference had also expressed its willingness to take part in any meaningful and result-oriented political process.
