The Hindu : 'Centre not keen on solving J&K issue'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 02, 2002

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Other States - Jammu & Kashmir

'Centre not keen on solving J&K issue'

By Shujaat Bukhari

KUPWARA JULY 1. The People's Conference chairman, Sajjad Gani Lone, today said his father Abdul Gani Lone was killed by his own associates and they would not go scot-free. He accused India and Pakistan of having an `agreement' on prolonging the dance of death in Kashmir and not moving forward to resolve the issue.

Addressing a rally here to mark the 40th day ceremony of his slain father, Mr. Sajjad said, "I paid a visit to my father's grave in the morning and pledged to tell you the truth. For the last 13 years we have only been telling lies." Repeatedly assuring the party workers that both he and his elder brother, Bilal Gani Lone, would not disappoint them he said, "we will carry Lone's mission ahead''.

Mr. Sajjad alleged that it was the Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, who was responsible for withdrawing the security cover to Lone. Stating that those with whom his father was sharing everything created the atmosphere for his killing, said "the killers were Kashmiris." Blaming the separatists for promoting bloodshed in Kashmir, he said, "they know the day the Kashmir problem is solved their shops will be closed.'' His father was killed because he wanted to resolve the Kashmir problem. Two important features of today's meeting was that Mr. Sajjad swore by secularism and Kashmiriyat saying that the People's Conference was the true representative of the Kashmiri people.

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