Front Page   

Hurriyat, Shabir Shah invited for talks

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi Aug. 22. The Kashmir Committee (KC), headed by the former Union Law Minister, Ram Jethmalani, has formally invited the All-Party Hurriyat Conference and Shabir Shah, chairman of the Democratic Freedom Party for "continuing the dialogue which commenced in Srinagar when the committee was recently there.''

The committee convener, Ashok Bhan, has sent identical invitations to the Hurriyat chief, Abdul Gani Bhat, and Mr. Shah. The letter said "it would be appreciated if you can make the visit early next week so that a further structured dialogue could go on for hammering out a peaceful and lasting solution to the Kashmir imbroglio.'' It is believed that Mr. Shah has agreed to come to the capital next week.

Mr. Jethmalani and Mr. Bhan are reported to be of the view that notwithstanding the rejection of the Committee's suggestion that the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections be deferred, the dialogue with the "separatist'' camp must not be allowed to fall into disuse. Mr. Bhan, who is the pointman for contact with the Kashmiri leaders, remains engaged with Kashmiri leaders, especially Prof. Bhat. The KC leaders have come back from Srinagar convinced that the mood in the Valley was ripe for a breakthrough only if "New Delhi'' could muster imagination.

It will be the committee's endeavour to see if a meeting could be organised between the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and Mr. Shah, without either side diluting its known stand.

Though the KC is known to have been granted audience by the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, the Prime Minister's Office has been lukewarm to its efforts.

Hence, the keenness to find ways of signalling that the committee enjoys confidence across the board among the powers that be.

However, there is the realisation that the KC's exertions would be affected by the BJP's decision to have an electoral understanding with the newly-created, RSS-sponsored Jammu State Morcha, which is agitating for trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir. Different actors in the separatist camp in the Kashmir valley are bound to see the ruling party's move as the weakening of the Centre's "integral part'' resolve.

Meanwhile, the Kashmiri Samiti, an organisation of the Kashmiri Pandits, has criticised the holding of elections.

"The ensuing elections to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly are meaningless for Kashmiri Hindus as these do not, in any way, help them to pursue their objective of returning to their homes with honour and dignity,'' the committee president, Sunil Shakdher, said in a press statement.

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

• President returns ordinance on poll reforms to Cabinet
• Pak. not averse to joint patrolling
• SAARC is different: Sinha
• Robin Singh likely to lead team for Champions Trophy
• Aussies agree to sign contract
• Delhi police question Madhu Sharma, daughter
• Hurriyat, Shabir Shah invited for talks
• Reconsider decision: Jethmalani
• BJP chief relinquishes land
• 18 killed in plane crash
• One killed in BSF firing
• Four militants nabbed

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