Front Page   

Mirwaiz rejects Jehadi `diktat'

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR JULY 4. The All-Party Hurriyat Conference has reacted strongly to the United Jehadi Council's directive, which said that it should either initiate a poll boycott campaign or quit the leadership of the movement.

The UJC, a conglomerate of 14 Pakistani-based Kashmiri militant outfits, had, in a statement on Tuesday, asked the Hurriyat leaders to outrightly reject the coming elections in Jammu and Kashmir or face the "wrath" of the people in the Valley, and urged the leadership to quit if it failed to oppose the electoral process in the State.

The former Hurriyat chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said the umbrella organisation was not guided by anyone and "whatever decision we take will be in accordance with the need of the hour.'' The Hurriyat's decisions were not taken on the basis of "dictates" from India, Pakistan or anyone else. "We are open to suggestions but we won't be guided by anyone. The Hurriyat is a political forum and whatever we feel is needed for strengthening the movement, we will do that.'' Taking a dig at the UJC chief and leader of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Syed Salahuddin, who is in Pakistan, Bilal Lone, chairman of the People's Conference — another Hurriyat constituent — asked him to return to Kashmir. "I am ready to concede my place, if anyone is keen on coming here and enforcing a poll boycott.''

Another Hurriyat heavyweight, Abbas Ansari, too criticised the UJC statement saying the "UJC has its own strategy and we have our own ways and means. As they don't need to obey our dictates, we too are not obliged to listen to them.''

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Investor confidence my priority: Jaswant
• Waiting for Pak. action, India tells Britain
• Shooting at Los Angeles airport; 2 killed
• Mirwaiz rejects Jehadi `diktat'
• Mosque demolished in Ahmedabad
• Powell calls up Sinha
• Case registered against Vaiko
• Mamata seeks PM's intervention
• Byelection results
• No visa extension
• Julia Roberts weds again

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu