Date:08/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/08/stories/2004120804531200.htm

National

National Conference joins Hurriyat protest against `rights violations'

By Shujaat Bukhari

The Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (centre), the former Chairman, Maulana Abbas Ansari (left), and senior leader, Abdul Gani Bhat, at a hunger-strike in Srinagar on Tuesday. - Photo: Nissar Ahmad

SRINAGAR, DEC. 7. The National Conference today joined the daylong token hunger strike organised by the moderate faction of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference to protest against "increasing human rights violations by security forces".

Led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, senior Hurriyat leader, Abdul Gani Bhat, Moulvi Abbas Ansari, Fazl Haque Qureshi and Bilal Gani Lone were joined by hundreds of their workers at the polo ground here, besides the National Conference leaders, Shamima Firdous and Irfan Shah, and the Youth National Conference leader, Farooq Zargar. The National Conference patron, Farooq Abdullah, on Saturday asked his workers to join the hunger strike to make it clear to the Mufti Government that "all was not well in the State."

This is for the first time any pro-India party has openly supported the separatist conglomerate on the issue of `human rights violations' against security forces.

Ms. Firdous, who is also a member of the Legislative Council, led a contingent of National Conference women holding banners "Stop human rights violations and treat people as human beings". Mr. Shah also appeared with some his workers and joined the Hurriyat leaders in the shamiana erected for the purpose. Though the Mirwaiz had no problems with the National Conference joining him, he said `human rights violations' had become the order of the day during Dr. Abdullah's six-year rule in the State.

Ready for talks

Welcoming the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan, the Mirwaiz said, "We are happy that they are coming close but Kashmiris should be part of it". The Mirwaiz reiterated the Hurriyat's stand on talks and said "we are ready for talks as we held two rounds earlier with New Delhi". But he added that these had to be unconditional and Pakistan needed to be included in the talks which have to be Kashmir-centric.

Mufti's reaction

The Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, said the separatists had every right to raise their voice against the alleged human rights violations.

"They [Hurriyat] are most welcome to stage a hunger strike against the violations of human rights. There is democracy in the country and they have every right to raise their voice against excesses, if any, taking place."