Srinagar, May 21
Describing Kashmir as a complicated issue, Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq here today urged the Prime Minister to create consensus in the country on resolving the issue to help the ongoing dialogue process. He stressed the need for political ways and means towards finding a permanent and amicable solution of the issue adding the Hurriyat had always been ready for bold initiatives.
"I want to convey to the Prime Minister time has come when the Government of India has to create consensus in the country on Kashmir", the Mirwaiz said in his address at a public meeting at Eidgah here today. He said the Hurriyat Conference believed in dialogue without conditions to discuss the Kashmir issue only. The APHC chairman held Pakistan government with its positive approach had assured them it would not take any steps against Kashmiris and added India needed to "take steps in this direction". The Mirwaiz held round-table conferences and granting assistance to the affected people did not solve the "political issue" that could be achieved only through a political solution. Referring to its proposals and suggestion, the Mirwaiz pointed out Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf’s formula was the right approach. He lamented in the entire process Kashmiris were not being involved and had been ignored even in the series of accords and agreements in the past five decades.
The meeting on the conclusion of week-long programmes was held to commemorate the founder leader of the Awami Action Committee and Omar’s father Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq on his 17th death anniversary today. The programme organised by the Hurriyat Conference was also held to commemorate founder leader of the Peoples Conference and former APHC leader Abdul Ghani Lone, who fell to the bullets of unidentified gunmen after similar congregation at Eidgah on this day five years ago. The day was observed amid complete shutdown across the valley called by the Hurriyat Conference to pay tributes to the "martyrs". All shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the road while thousands of people converged on Eidgah to attend the commemoration rally. It was attended by top APHC leaders Abdul Ghani Bhat, Moulvi Abbas Ansari, Bilal Ghani Lone and Agha Syed Hassan.
Referring to General Musharraf’s four- point formula, Mirwaiz said Pakistan had shown flexibility in its approach and now it was India’s turn to take some "sincere and serious" steps. "If it takes one step we will move 10 steps forward", he said and added the elections were no solution to the Kashmir issue. The Mirwaiz, however, favoured the elections on either side of LoC and the self-governance. He also demanded the withdrawal of troops.
Former chairman Abdul Ghani Bhat credited Pakistan President with paving the way for dialogue between the two neighbouring countries and the APHC leaders. Demanding de-militarisation Bhat favoured joint management in which certain matters on both sides of the LoC could be supervised jointly. Asserting that the APHC would not contest any elections, Bhat said if "these conditions are met", it would come forward.
