Third Front in J

New Delhi, Mar 15 (UNI) Expelled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Ghulam Hassan Mir today said a "third front" of smaller political parties in Jammu and Kashmir will be formed very soon and claimed ''some separatist groups'' would be part of the conglomerate.

Mr Mir, who is currently in the national capital, said several splinter separatist groups are set to join the front to contest the coming assembly election, due in October this year, under this front. ''I am in touch with several second rung separatist leaders and they are willing to join the electoral process,'' he said.

Justifying the formation of the front, he said ''A new combination is a must to accomodate several smaller groups and separatists, who are not keen to join the PDP or the National Conference.'' He had already held talks with former Chief Minister G M Shah, CPM leader Mohammed Yousaf Tarigami, Transport Minister Hakim Mohammed Yasin and others in this regard, and all of them strongly support the formation of the front.

He said participation in the coming assembly election will be very high because of normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan. ''Militancy in under control. Indo-Pak ties are cordial and this will enable people to exercise their franchise without fear,'' he added.

The former PDP leader lambasted political parties for doing nothing to redress grievances of the people. These political groups were only keen to remain in power.

Mr Mir said no single political party is going to get absolute majority in the state and was confident that the third front would play a crucial and critical role in the formation of the next government.

He urged the centre to annouce employment package for unemployed youth in the state. Youth can be exploited by the disgruntled elements for their own political ends. Government jobs are less and it is necessary to set up industries in the state, especially the valley to generate employment.

He is expected to meet several minister to seek rehabilitation package for the militancy affected people and widows, besides orphans.

UNI SMA MSJ GC1501