Geelani rejects PM's invite for Srinagar round-table

Srinagar, May 20: Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani today rejected the Centre's invite to participate in the second round-table conference on Kashmir, convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, here on May 24-25.

Addressing a crowded news conference here, he also called for a general strike on both the days.

Mr Geelani, who is the chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference, accused New Delhi of insincerity in resolving the Kashmir issue.

He also read the invitation letter sent by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) at the news conference.

Mr Geelani said there has been no change in the ground situation even after India and Pakistan started the ongoing composite dialogue process in January 2004. He said as many as 130 conferences, meetings and dialogue processes have been held since 1947 to find ways and means to resolve the vexed Kashmir issue.

''But, there has been no forward movement on the issue so far.

All such conferences, meetings and talks have failed to yield the desired results,'' the firebrand leader added.

He said all these conferences were meaningless and nothing would be achieved through such meetings.

Mr Geelani said there has been no flexibility in India's stand vis-a-vis the Kashmir issue.

He called for implementation of the UN resolutions, saying it was the only acceptable, peaceful and democratic solution to the long-festering Kashmir issue.

The hardline leader broke down several times during the news conference while alleging that security forces continue to commit attrocities in Kashmir.

UNI

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