The Hindu : Hurriyat's programme fails to take off?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 31, 2002

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Hurriyat's programme fails to take off?

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR AUG. 30. A mass contact programme of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference to mobilise public opinion against the coming elections to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has apparently failed to take off.

None of the Hurriyat leaders who addressed the Friday congregations in various mosques today talked of a poll boycott or commented on the filing of nominations by three candidates "covertly'' supported by the Peoples Conference, a constituent of the Hurriyat Conference.

Addressing a gathering at the Jama Masjid here, his first after a visit to the European countries, the Hurriyat chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said the organisation would hold talks with the Kashmir Committee for the resolution of the Kashmir crisis. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, had acknowledged that wrongs had been committed and that he would do everything to address the grievances of the people. "We are ready to talk to the Kashmir Committee with the good faith that it will help in the resolution of the Kashmir dispute,'' Mirwaiz Farooq said. ``The Hurriyat is ready for unconditional and meaningful talks with the Government for a durable resolution to the long-standing Kashmir issue... If the Government takes any step in this direction, the Hurriyat will respond positively.''

He, however, did not urge his supporters to boycott the elections. He only cautioned them that their casting of votes would "damage the movement.'' The world had changed after September 11. The attacks in America had led to all the "freedom movements" being termed ``terrorist" but now "genuine movements" were being recognised as legitimate freedom struggles. "We are not against elections, but they should be held under United Nations observation and for the resolution of the Kashmir crisis,'' he said.

Agha Hassan, a second-rung Hurriyat leader, addressed a similar gathering in which he said that the Centre was striking a rigid posture.

The leader of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Javid Mir, and Sheikh Ali Muhammad also addressed a meeting and urged the people to stand their ground. The Hurriyat was ready for talks for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

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