Hardliners in Govt. sabotaging peace process: Hurriyat

By Shujaat Bukhari

JAMMU, JAN. 20. Accusing the hardliners within the Indian leadership of sabotaging the peace process in Jammu and Kashmir, the All-Party Hurriyat Conference today said it would not insist on travel documents for all its leaders as issuing them was the Centre's prerogative.

After a meeting of the APHC executive in Srinagar, the spokesman, Sheikh Abdur Rasheed, read out a statement: ``The hardliners within the Union Government are bent upon sabotaging the peace process initiated by the Prime Minister and in this connection issuance of travel documents is being held back on one pretext or the other... The Hurriyat reiterates its commitment to a meaningful and purposeful process to resolve the Kashmir issue.''

``The Hurriyat makes it clear to the international community that the process initiated by Mr. A. B. Vajpayee, with the announcement of a unilateral ceasefire, and the creation of a conducive atmosphere is being ruined by hardliners within the Indian leadership, who have created hurdles in the resolution of the problem and restoration of peace.'' If the Centre's attitude became a hurdle in the peace process, the responsibility of its collapse would be the Government's.

The Jamat-e-Islami leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, was indisposed. The executive members including, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Mr. Abdul Gani Lone, Moulvi Abbas Ansari, Mr. Yasin Malik and Sheikh Abdul Aziz, besides Prof. Abdul Gani Bhat, who chaired the meeting, were present.

Before the meeting, the former chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, told presspersons that the Hurriyat had to take a final decision on the Pakistan visit. But, the conglomerate would not be guided by the Centre's terms. ``Whatever decision is taken will be in the interests of the movement.''

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