Hurriyat wants Centre to initiate talks

Srinagar, Jun 24: Accusing the BJP of having an "ostrich syndrome" on Kashmir, moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today asked the Central government to accept "historical realities" and initiate a meaningful dialogue with the "people" of the state and Pakistan.

He also expressed astonishment over the "hue and cry" in some sections over Pakistan High Commissioner's invitation to Hurriyat leadership for an Iftar party, saying "to blow out of proportion this simple invitation for a social event and present it out of its context speaks about the mental bankruptcy of such elements".

He said the separatist leaders will announce "joint resolutions regarding the Kashmir issue on Jumat-ul-Vida (the last Friday of Ramadan) on July one."

In his customary address after Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar, the Mirwaiz referred to Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's statement in Jammu recently that people of the state had no role to play in the resolution of Kashmir issue and said it shows her "ignorance about the subject".

He termed the statements of BJP leadership as an "ostrich syndrome" and said their assertions about keeping the people of Kashmir out of the process of resolution of Kashmir issue is not going to change the political and historical importance or the disputed nature of Kashmir.

"The BJP leadership should come out of its self illusions about Kashmir" and "while understanding the fundamental political as well as historical realities about Kashmir, it should adopt realistic policy and initiate a meaningful dialogue with the people of Kashmir and Pakistan for the resolution of Kashmir issue," Farooq said.

"Kashmir is not an administrative, electoral or a law and order issue but an internationally accepted political issue involving the political future of the people of the state," he argued. He also condemned the continued restrictions on the movement of separatist leaders and said "such tactics can neither cow down the resistance (separatist) leadership nor suppress the peaceful struggle of the people".

Meanwhile, Chairman of hardline Hurriyat Syed Ali Shah Geelani paid tributes to seven militants killed in separate gunbattles with security forces in Kupwara district since yesterday and accused the Centre of being responsible for the "bloodshed" in Kashmir.

He said Kashmiris are peace seekers but the key for establishing peace in the region lies with India. "Indian leadership should shun the traditional policy on Kashmir and accept the ground realities and fulfill the promises which were made to the people of Kashmir at national and international level," Geelani said.

PTI