Hurriyat ends Friday prayers: yes to talks

Using the platform of the historic Jamia mosque on the last Friday of Ramzan, the Hurriyat Conference today approached thousands of worshipp...

Using the platform of the historic Jamia mosque on the last Friday of Ramzan, the Hurriyat Conference today approached thousands of worshippers to seek ratification of its decision to talk to Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani. And talked about a blueprint that would pave the way for permanent settlement of Kashmir and appealed to dissidents to return to the Hurriyat’s fold.

‘‘We have to participate in a meaningful dialogue that holds good for Kashmir, its people and their future. A dialogue will also serve well for the people of India and Pakistan. If talks are unconditional and suit people’s aspirations, we should not hesitate to talk,’’ former Hurriyat chairman Abdul Gani Bhat told a massive gathering at Nowhatta.

	‘Later rather than sooner, maybe after SAARC’

			‘ • Top Hurriyat sources said talks could take a while to begin. They hope that SAARC helps generate ‘‘positive momentum’’ in Indo-Pak relations. Author of the roadmap Abdul Ghani Bhat told The Indian Express: •‘‘All parties, India, Pak and Kashmiris, have to scale down our stated positions and show flexibility. It has to be a give and take.’’ • ‘‘We need to broaden the process’’ to include those not part of the separatist movement. • Asked about reports that N N Vohra would be assigned the job, Bhat said: ‘‘We wouldn’t like that.’’

‘‘We have even talked to those who are not part of the freedom struggle seeking how we go about solving Kashmir,’’ he said.

Bhat said the Hurriyat was drafting a final blueprint that would help resolve the Kashmir tangle ‘‘once and for ever.’’ He, however, did not elaborate on what the blueprint was.

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But he said it would be shown to all ‘‘global powers’’ to ascertain their viewpoints on resolution of Kashmir. ‘‘We intend to apprise all the foreign embassies about the blueprint much before eliciting opinion from New Delhi and Islamabad. Once the nations endorse it, both India and Pakistan will have no option but to agree to it,’’ said Bhat amid cheers and pro-Independence slogans from the people.

‘‘Kashmir ka phaisla Kashmiri karenge. Yeh mulq hamara hai, Iska phaisla hum karenge,’’ he told the gathering which reciprocated with the same slogans.

Referring to the recent unification moves taken by the moderate leadership to bring the hawks, like Syed Ali Shah Geelani, back, Bhat said: ‘‘Mirwaiz, Ansari Sahab, Bilal and I are constantly making efforts to bring back the people who are angry with us.’’ Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is the chief priest of Kashmir, read out a resolution passed yesterday by the general council and working committee of the Hurriyat. The resolution has sought unconditional and meaningful dialogue with New Delhi with regards to the aspirations of the people. Earlier, he told the congregration that Hurriyat had kept its doors open to an unconditional dialogue.