Hurriyat row to the fore

SRINAGAR, DEC. 10. Differences in the Hurriyat Conference on the modality of holding talks with the Centre came into the open today, when uproarious scenes, marked by trading of charges and slogan-shouting, were witnessed during a seminar on human rights here.

Senior Hurriyat leader, Mr. Abdul Ghani Lone, was the target of attack by some constituents of the apex body of separatist outfits.

The divergence of views surfaced when the Muslim Conference leader, Mr. G.N. Shaheen, criticised Mr. Lone for his recent statements from Pakistan about the presence of foreign militants in Kashmir and for supporting New Delhi's ceasefire. Mr. Shaheen demanded an apology from Mr. Lone.

Mr. Lone's party members started shouting slogans against the Muslim Conference and this set off acrimonious scenes.

The other members of the Hurriyat Conference, representing various factions, joined the two groups - pro and anti-dialogue.

Former Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, presiding over the seminar, took strong exception to Mr. Lone's remarks and said ``it was Lone who welcomed the Taliban victory in Afghanistan. He was also the first who said that he would welcome Taliban in Kashmir if they come to the rescue of Kashmiris.''

Syed Geelani also criticised the Hurriyat leaders camping in Delhi, saying ``they should return to Srinagar as it is against our self-respect to beg for dialogue. If the Centre is willing to initiate talks with the Hurriyat, it (Centre) should come to us and we need not go to Delhi.''

After over an hour of slogan-shouting, the seminar resumed.

The spokesman of the Jamaat-e-Islami, Mr. Zahid Ali, in a statement, expressed resentment over Mr. Lone's remarks.

Terming his utterances as ``ridiculous and malicious'' he said the Jamaat would like to inform Mr. Lone that ``religious organisations can never be labelled as fundamentalists as they are working for peace and brotherhood.''

`Lone unrealistic'

Shujaat Bhukari writes from Jammu:

In an interview, Syed Geelani came out openly against Mr. Lone, saying the latter was ``inconsistent and unrealistic''.

``By saying that I am a moderate and others are fundamentalists, he simply is playing into the hands of Western forces bent upon dividing Muslims. It was quite uncharitable to call them fundamentalists.''

Ms. Asiya Andrabi, chief of a women's front-ranking secessionist outfit, Dukhtaran-e-Millat (daughters of the nation), reacted to Mr. Lone's remarks in The Washington Post and sought action against him.

``Those who ignore the role of foreign militants are ungrateful,'' she said and expressed concern over Mr. Lone's continuance in the Hurriyat Conference and accused him and others for being ready for a ``sell-out''.

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