Pro-dialogue Hurriyat faction chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday described J&K Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh’s fresh talks offer as a move “to play to the gallery” but reiterated his readiness to take “ten steps if the Centre moves one.”
“There seems no indication or move to engage us [separatists]. The red line drawn on our meetings with Pakistan officials may be withdrawn but BJP’s position on Kashmir is only hardening. So Mr. Singh’s offer cannot be taken seriously unless it comes from New Delhi,” the Mirwaiz told The Hindu .
Twin clauseIn a significant development, senior BJP leader Mr. Singh on Tuesday offered to facilitate talks between the Centre and separatists.
“The government will not compromise on two things — militancy and separatism. As per the Agenda of Alliance, we would like to revive the Government of India-separatist talks as was the case during the [former Prime Minister] Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government,” Mr. Singh pointed out.
Vajpayee formulaShowing readiness for dialogue, the Mirwaiz, however, stressed on specifics of the Vajpayee formula. “It envisaged triangular talks where Srinagar-Delhi, Delhi-Islamabad and Srinagar-Islamabad dialogue will be facilitated. Two, it offered to talk within the ambit of humanity and also at the highest level,” said the Mirwaiz.
However, the Mirwaiz said the BJP policy on Kashmir was “very confusing”. “On the one hand MP Subramanian Swamy calls for resolving the issue by 2017 by taking away J&K’s special status, on the other, Mr. Singh offers dialogue in the Valley. It seems they are playing to the gallery,” said the Mirwaiz.
Pandits’ colonies opposedIn a rare show of unity, separatists have joined hands in the Valley against the PDP-BJP government’s proposed move to set up colonies for migrant Pandits, ex-soldiers and floating homeless population, besides allowing non-state subjects to invest in the State through the new industrial policy.
A day after JKLF chief Yasin Malik attended a seminar organised by the Mirwaiz in Srinagar, the former also held a two-hour meeting with hard-line Hurriyat faction chairman Syed Ali Geelani on Wednesday.
“The meeting thoroughly discussed the establishment of Sainik Colonies, separate townships for Kashmiri Pandits, introduction of the New Industrial Policy, construction of shelters for the non-state labour, the issue of NEET [the common entrance test for medical and dental courses] and the miserable condition of the Muslims in Jammu,” said Geelani Hurriyat’s spokesman.
‘Will resist RSS agenda’In a joint statement, the JKLF and the Hurriyat said that they would “resist the implementation of the RSS agendas through a disciplined and an effective course of action”.
“Mr. Geelani and Mr. Malik unanimously agreed that a do-or-die situation has been created for Kashmiris,” they alleged.
Throwing its weight behind the unification of separatists, the Mirwaiz said, “Unity has always foiled ill designs. There is a need to develop consensus on carrying forward the movement.”
