Geelani faction rejects round-table conference

Srinagar, Apr 14: The Hurriyat Conference (HC) headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani today rejected the third round-table conference on Kashmir being held in New Delhi on April 24.

''We are in favour of tripartite talks only to find a lasting solution to the Kashmir issue,'' an HC spokesman Aiyaz Akbar told sources.

He said the HC had already rejected two previous round-table conferences held in New Delhi and Srinagar in the past and added there was no question of participating in the third conference.

''The HC cannot be a part of a process that is to discuss the internal administrative matter,'' he said.

''Let India, Pakistan and the true representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir sit together and hammer out a solution acceptable to all the three parties,'' he said.

He alleged that Kashmir issue was not being discussed in these round-table conferences.

''People, mostly leaders of mainstream parties, who participate in these conferences are discussing everything except the issue of Kashmir,'' he said adding they discussed administrative matters and subsidy only.

Mr Akbar said a number of bilateral talks were held between India and Pakistan and some leaders of Kashmir since 1947 without making any breakthrough.

''Such bilateral talks will meet the same fate,'' he said and advocated holding of tripartite talks.

He alleged that the peace process between India and Pakistan had failed to change the ground situation in Kashmir where people were being killed in fake encounters, women disrespected and youths put behind bars.

He said thousands of innocent youths had been canguishing in different jails in and outside the state for years together without any justification.

UNI