The Hindu : Jethmalani meets separatist leaders

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 10, 2002

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Jethmalani meets separatist leaders

SRINAGAR JUNE 9 . In a bid to persuade separatists to take part in the coming elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the former Union Law Minister, Ram Jethmalani, met three top separatist leaders during a two-day visit, but one of them said he was told that they were not interested in the polls.

Mr. Jethmalani, who arrived here on Friday, had separate meetings with the Hurriyat Conference chairman, Abdul Gani Bhat, its senior executive member, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and the J and K Democratic Freedom Party president, Shabir Ahmad Shah.

However, it was not known under whose directions had Mr. Jethmalani visited Kashmir and in what capacity he interacted with the separatist leaders, but reports suggest that he was on a mission to persuade them to participate in the elections.

Mr. Bhat and the Mirwaiz confirmed having met Mr. Jethmalani, but did not divulge what transpired between them.

Mr. Shah said ``I bluntly told Mr. Jethmalani that a lasting solution to the Kashmir problem cannot be found by changing the faces of those at the helm of affairs. I told him that all efforts aimed at changing the faces of those at the helm of affairs in the State will be a futile exercise.''

PTI

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