‘Enough is enough’

The Mirwaiz Umer Farooq-led Hurriyat Conference today threatened to launch an ‘‘Intifada’’ if New Delhi does not take st...

The Mirwaiz Umer Farooq-led Hurriyat Conference today threatened to launch an ‘‘Intifada’’ if New Delhi does not take steps to bring down the cases of human rights violations by the Army in the Valley.

Winding up a day-long token hunger strike to protest against alleged human rights violations by troops, which was attended by the National Conference, Mirwaiz warned the Centre and state governments that the Hurriyat would hold public rallies in all the streets and towns of Kashmir ‘‘if human rights are not respected and troops not reined in’’.

The hunger strike was held at the sprawling TRC Grounds where a huge contingent of police and paramilitary forces had been posted following instructions from Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

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‘‘Enough is enough, we will not remain silent now. Since Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Kashmir and promised peace, dignity and honour to the Kashmiris, the level of human rights abuses has touched a new high,’’ the Mirwaiz said.

The Hurriyat leader said recent incidents of excesses committed by the security forces in Handwara, Hakbara, Chadoora and the hinterland showed that nothing had changed on the ground.

In a strong message to New Delhi, he said ‘‘that dialogue and human rights violations cannot go hand in hand’’. Saying the Army Chief had stated that infiltration and the number of violence-related incidents had come down and that 20,000 troops were reportedly to be de-inducted from the state, the Hurriyat chairman regretted that there was little relief to the Kashmiris. ‘‘There has been no let-up in frisking, house-to-house searches and traffic restrictions,’’ he remarked amid applause from a group of NC leaders and activists.

The Mirwaiz reiterated that the Hurriyat was willing to talk if New Delhi exhibited sincerity and responded positively to its three-point agenda — unconditional dialogue, Kashmir-centric talks and inclusion of Pakistan in the talks.

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He said New Delhi needs to come clear on its policy — whether it wants the resolution of Kashmir through dialogue or military means. He added that bilateral talks (between India and Pakistan) on Kashmir has failed and the two nations should look beyond their stated position. ‘‘Tashkent, Shimla, Agra and Lahore have failed. It is an opportune time to be flexible and discuss options on the dias,’’ he said.

Hailing Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s efforts to show flexibility by throwing up an option on Kashmir, the Mirwaiz said it was the turn of New Delhi to respond. ‘‘Let it (New Delhi) come up with a proposal. We will also have some suggestions and let all the three parties sit on the table to discuss them one by one,’’ he said. ‘‘At this juncture we need a vision, a formula to take the entire process ahead,’’ he added. ‘‘But if we are talking of jobs, subsidy, reconstruction to solve the Kashmir issue, we are going nowhere,’’ he said.