Jammu, July 22
Separatists differ on holding of the Assembly poll under Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir and on the restoration of greater autonomy.
The president of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party, Mr Shabir Ahmed Shah, said that participation in the Assembly poll should follow a dialogue for the final settlement of the Kashmir issue.
He told TNS today that once the dialogue between the separatists and Delhi was initiated the election for determining the representative character of political groups could be held. He said the dialogue could include a discussion on modalities of the election. “We will tell Delhi how and when the poll should be held.”
Mr Shah stated that holding the Assembly poll under Governor’s rule “is not our demand.” “We insist on initiating bilateral or tripartite talks for the settlement of the Kashmir issue.”
He was willing to meet Mr Arun Jaitley, BJP general secretary, who has been appointed to discuss devolution of more powers to the state.
Hurriyat leaders have not shown any interest in discussing the autonomy issue with Mr Jaitley, Mr Shah said. “It is not our demand. But there is no harm to discuss the matter with Mr Jaitley to resolve the Kashmir issue.”
On the contrary, two senior Hurriyat leaders Prof Abdul Gani Bhat and Mr Sajjad Lone said “autonomy is not on our agenda.” “We want settlement of the Kashmir issue through dialogue and devolution of more constitutional powers to the state was not an answer to the core issue of Kashmir.”
Prof Bhat said “autonomy is not our demand. It is the demand voiced by Dr Abdullah.”
Asked if he would meet Mr Jaitley, Prof Bhat said “we are prepared to discuss the ground realities and the ways that can solve the Kashmir problem.” “We are not ready to discuss autonomy or the Assembly poll because they are not an answer to the core issue of Kashmir.”
Prof Bhat said that had the Government of India responded positively to “our five-point demand” things would have improved. There was still time for the Centre to allow a Hurriyat team to visit Pakistan for discussing with the government and leaders of militant outfits ways for resolving the issue. Besides the Centre should withdraw troops from the border, release all detenues and stop excesses. If it was done the atmosphere could be conducive for tripartite talks.
When reminded that the head of the United Jihad Council, Syed Salahuddin, had opposed the demand, Prof Bhat said “perceptions differ, but the goal is common.”
He explained that while “we favour settlement of the Kashmir issue through dialogue the other side wants it through noise.”
In reply to another question Prof Bhat said “it is not necessary that Hurriyat team’s visit should precede talks between our tribe and Delhi.” “Permission to visit Pakistan could be the second step and let Delhi initiate a dialogue first,” he said.
These separatist leaders ridicule those who claim that the restoration of greater autonomy to the state could resolve the Kashmir issue on the plea that “the demand for autonomy is a political gimmick on the part of the National Conference to woo voters.”
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