Conspiracy against J

Srinagar, Aug 24: Breakaway Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani has rejected the self-rule proposal as ''a conspiracy to snatch the right of self-determination from the people of Jammu and Kashmir''.

Significantly, the Hizbul Mujahideen, the single largest indigenous militant group operating in Jammu and Kashmir, had supported the proposal, saying this could be implemented only after India and Pakistan withdrew troops from the areas of the state under their respective control.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a ruling coalition partner in Jammu and Kashmir, over the past several months had been repeatedly pressing for the implementation of the self-rule proposal on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC).

Addressing the annual meet of his Tehreek-e-Hurriyat here, Mr Geelani said, ''I reject the self-rule proposal. The Indian agents are lobbying for it as a solution to the Kashmir issue. It is a conspiracy to snatch the right of self-determination from the people of Jammu and Kashmir.'' ''The ongoing freedom struggle is against the sovereignty of India. And those who talk of the self-rule proposal are trying to sow its seeds in Jammu and Kashmir,'' he added.

Mr Geelani said the bus services, roadmaps, talks of softening the borders, and proposal of status quo were also part of the ''conspiracy'' to divert the attention from the ongoing movement.

''I won't let this happen. We won't sell the blood of martyrs,'' the hardline leader said amid shouting of ''pro-freedom'' slogans by his supporters.

On reunification of the two amalgam factions, Mr Geelani said, ''They (Mirwaiz Umar Farooq led Hurriyat) held talks with India and Pakistan, but could not resolve the issue or make any headway. They laid condition for participation in the round-table conference, but still did not and then said we missed a chance.'' He set conditions for reunification of the two Hurriyat factions.

''They can return, but have to accept their mistake and apologise.

For four years, I worked under (Mirwaiz) Umar. I don't want the chairmanship as had been cited for split of the Hurriyat,'' he said.

The firebrand leader also described the blasts in the US, Mumbai and London as ''acts of terrorism''.

However, he also condemned the alleged ''atrocities of the Indian troops in Kashmir, brutality of America in Iraq and Afghanistan, and terrorism of Israel in Palestine and Lebanon.'' On the return of migrant Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley, Mr Geelani said they could return, but not in safe houses constructed by the state government.

''They should directly return to their homes,'' he added.

On talks with the Centre, the Hurriyat Chairman said, ''I won't talk till India releases freedom fighters, accepts Kashmir as a disputed territory, and revokes special powers given to troops.'' In an interview with a local news agency, Kashmir News Service, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin had said that the self-rule could help in leading towards a final solution to the vexed issue.

He described self-rule as governance of the people of Jammu and Kashmir which could be attained only after withdrawal of troops by India and Pakistan from areas of the state under their control.

UNI