Chinks in Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat Conference?

Srinagar -  Chinks appeared in the Mirwaiz Umer Farooq-led moderate Hurriyat group Monday a day after a statement made by another senior leader of the group.

A group of Hurriyat constituents Monday criticised the statement made by Abdul Gani Bhat, former chairman and senior leader of the moderate group of Hurriyat, in which he said the United  Nations resolutions on Kashmir are no longer applicable.

"The National Conference talks of autonomy and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) talks of self-rule. Why should not we move together with a common minimum political agenda and push  it ahead," Bhat told a separatist public meeting Sunday in Batengoo, Sopore.

Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Molvi Abbas Ansari, Bilal Lone and Mukhtar Ahmad Waza were also present at the meeting.

Speaking at a press conference Monday, Muhammad Nayeem Khan of National Front told reporters that those who want to redirect or misdirect the separatist struggle have no place in the  Hurriyat Conference, an obvious dig at Bhat and Mirwaiz Umer.

"They have no mandate to redirect or misdirect the movement. The Hurriyat has a constitution and those who do not follow the constitution have no place in the Hurriyat Conference,"  Nayeem Khan said.

Khan added that the ruling National Conference and the PDP were talking of autonomy and the self-rule to consolidate India's rule in Kashmir

"If they want to be part of the freedom movement they must follow the Hurriyat constitution. There is no solution to the Kashmir problem without giving the people their inalienable right of self-determination.

"If some leaders are now tired, they must step aside and allow the people to take their struggle to logical conclusion."

Also present at the press conference were Muhammad Azam Inquilabi of Mahazi-e-Azadi, Javaid Ahmad Mir of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF-H), Bashir Ahmad Bhat of Jammu

and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and Hilal War of People's Political Party.

Inquilabi said he did not favour any split in the moderate Hurriyat, but would favour the role of opposition within the Hurriyat Conference.

Asked if the group of Hurriyat leaders opposing the statement made by Bhat could be called Hurriyat dissidents, Inquilabi said: "You have used the right word."

"It is time a resistance council is formed where all freedom-seeking parties have equal rights to speak and participate in debate and discussion aimed at giving the struggle a new soul and

vigour," Inquilabi told IANS.

He also said that Bhat lacked political acumen and the ball was now in the court of Mirwaiz to come clean on the issue and clear the "confusion created by Bhat's statement".