Third Front to be formed in J&K; separatists too may join

Srinagar, Aug 25: Hectic parleys are underway between senior leaders of several political parties of Jammu and Kashmir regarding the formation of a ''Third Front'' which will work for development and peace in the troubled state, reliable sources said.

The sources told that talks between top political leaders of the state have been going on for the past few weeks on the formation of the Third Front and an announcement in this regard was expected anytime now.

All ''like-minded'' politicians, intellectuals, social activists and senior separatist leaders irrespective of their ideological and political affiliations were being roped in to join the Third Front, they added.

The sources said the main idea behind the formation of the Front was to help the people of Jammu and Kashmir overcome the trauma and problems they have been facing for the past several years.

However, they ruled out that the Third Front would pose any threat to the Congress-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) coalition government in the state.

''The Third Front will pose no threat to the government. There would be absolutely no efforts to destabilise the government or disturb the present situation. In fact, the Front will comprise even Ministers and leaders of the ruling coalition,'' the sources added.

They said invitations were being extended to several top separatists to join the Front and work for the betterment of the people of the state and expressed hope that many senior secessionist leaders would join the platform.

The sources said the main emphasis of the Third Front would be on building consensus, public opinion and an autonomous voice in Jammu and Kashmir on various issues. The Front would make all efforts to give a push to India-Pakistan relations besides ensuring that the ongoing dialogue process gained momentum and made more meaningful and result-oriented to resolve all issues, including the contentious Kashmir problem, between the two countries so that permanent peace was established in the South Asia region, they added.

The sources said the Third Front would raise ''strongly and vociferously'' its voice against all forms of violence in the state - be it from militants or the security forces.

It would also stress on broadening the ambit of the ongoing dialogue process between the Government of India and various shades of opinion in Jammu and Kashmir by including the indigenous militant leadership so that peace and normalcy was restored in the strife-torn state, they added.

The sources said the Front would also seek rehabilitation of the victims of violence and all those displaced due to militancy. It would work for dignified return of the Kashmiri Pandits to their homes in the Valley, migrants of border areas, those who had crossed the border and the Line of Control (LoC), and also return of the disgruntled youth from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) who had gone there for arms training, but were now willing to come back and join the national mainstream, they added.

The sources said the Front would strongly raise the issues faced by the people in day-to-day life besides work for providing employment opportunities -- both in the government and private sectors -- to the youth who have been ''chief victims'' of violence in Jammu and Kashmir during all the years of turmoil.

They said the Third Front would also lay its stress on making the state administration corruption-free, accountable and transparent.

The sources said final shape was being given to the formation of the Third Front and many political and separatist leaders have expressed their willingness to join the platform.

''The announcement is expected to be made any time,'' they added.

UNI