'Separatists welcome under Hurriyat platform '

Srinagar, May 18: Moderate Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today appealed to separatist groups and critics to close ranks and unite under the amalgam platform, saying it was the ''need of the hour at this critical juncture''.

At a seminar here, he also rejected outright the autonomy proposal, saying it was no solution and instead suggested self-rule, demilitarisation and United States of Kashmir as alternatives for a permanent settlement of the vexed issue.

''We invite separatists groups and critics to unitedly move forward at this crucial juncture. It is the need of the hour. The Hurriyat is the only platform which represents the sentiments, aspirations and wishes of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,'' the Mirwaiz said.

He said the important aspect of the resolution of the Kashmir issue was not political or economic, but psychological.

''We believe that unless the centre does not address the psyche of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, no package whether political, economic or social will help,'' he added.

The Hurriyat Chairman said efforts should be made by all the parties concerned -- India, Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir -- to find an ''out of the box'' solution which was acceptable to all of them and addressed their concerns.

He said the Hurriyat always favoured alternative negotiated settlement of the Kashmir issue.

''If the UN resolutions cannot be implemented due to some reasons and if independent Kashmir cannot be achieved, the Hurriyat constitution called for negotiated settlement between India, Pakistan and the people of the state,'' the Mirwaiz added.

However, he said the negotiations should be on ''give and take basis'' and as per the wishes and aspirations of the people.

Mirwaiz Farooq said the Hurriyat always supported the dialogue process India and Pakistan besides the initiatives and CBMs taken by the two countries.

'Pakistan and the Hurriyat Conference both have shown flexibility on the Kashmir issue and it was now the turn of India to reciprocate,' he said The seminar titled ''Kashmir Issue and Dialogue Process'' was organised as part of the week-long programme to mark the death anniversaries of assassinated leaders Mirwaiz Moulvi Mohammad Farooq and Abdul Ghani Lone.

The Mirwaiz said past experience has showed them that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been predominant losers in the situation adopted by India and Pakistan. ''Not only Simla, Tashkent and other agreements between the two countries after 1947, but in water treaties also, the losing party has been the people of the state,'' he added.

The Hurriyat Chairman called for a debate and consultations on all issues, including natural resources.

''The separatists have to take a lead. The people committed to peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue have to come forward and give their proposals. It is unfair that you don't do anything on your own and neither let others do anything. Time has come when all of us need to sit down and evolve a consensus,'' he added.

Mirwaiz Farooq said the time has come when all have to move ahead with right thinking, approach and with logic.

''There is no space for sentiments now. We have entered a phase where we have to logically convince each other,'' he added.

The Mirwaiz said the time for engagement and involvement has come and if there was delay in finding a resolution of the Kashmir issue, the people of the state would be the ''losers and the suffering party''.

UNI

Related Stories