Mirwaiz rules out chances of Hurriyat re-unification

Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Mirwaiz rules out chances of Hurriyat re-unification
‘Willing to discuss everything with New Delhi apart from status quo’

http://www.knskashmir.com/index.php/interviews/929-mirwaiz-rules-out-chances-of-hurriyat-re-unification

Srinagar, June 29 (KNS): The Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Tuesday ruled out any chance of re-unification with Hurriyat Conference (G) led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, saying all efforts made by him proved futile.
In an exclusive interview with KNS Mirwaiz said, “We tried our level best for the re-unification, but alas… Now there is no scope for it.”
Asked whom would he blame for re-unification failure, he said, “I don’t want to go into the blame game. I personally went to (Syed Ali Shah) Geelani sahib and tried to convince him for reunification in the interests of the freedom movement. Last year during summer uprising, we tried to develop unified approach with Geelani sahib, but it also didn’t work.” “Now let bygones be bygones. We have to try to accommodate each others views now and that will be the best possible option. They have there own position we have our own, though goal of both is same,” he told KNS.
Asked to comment on senior Hurriyat (M) leader, Shabir Ahmad Shah’s allegations that ‘invisible hands’ were responsible for failure of Hurriyat re-unification process, he said, “He (Shah) will be in a better position to explain the invisible hands.”
The Hurriyat (M) chairman advocated for incremental approach for resolving Kashmir issue. “Solution of Kashmir issue has to be step-by-step process. We are willing to discuss everything with New Delhi apart from status quo.”
Asked whether his faction of Hurriyat was willing to enter into a dialogue with New Delhi, he said, “We aren’t against dialogue in any way. But dialogue shouldn’t be for sake of the dialogue. Neither New Delhi and Islamabad have been able to made any headway in dialogue in past nor they can reach in future without the inclusion of Kashmiris.”
To a question whether there was any contact between Hurriyat and New Delhi Mirwaiz said, “We are in touch with some people from civil society. But there is no contact at official level.”
However, Mirwaiz regretted that New Delhi was delay-dallying the process of resolution of Kashmir issue. “After last years massive uprising, there was a chance for Government of India to address the root cause of the problem. But unfortunately they still believe in delay-dally tactics and are happy with status quo,” he told KNS.
He said Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) can be basis for the solution. “But it (CBMs) can’t be final solution. CBMs can create conducive atmosphere for dialogue. Dialogue has to be either trilateral or tripartite, then only it can succeed,” Umar added.
On former Pakistan President, Parvez Musharaf’s 4-point Kashmir formula the Hurriyat (M) chairman said, “Any formula can be interim experiment but not the final solution.”
On last year’s summer unrest, Umar said, “We took things to crescendo first where from it was bound to come down as it was difficult to sustain the momentum.”
Asked whether Hurriyat had become irrelevant after last year’s ‘failed’ uprising, he said, “These are clichés. Hurriyat or no Hurriyat, leader or no leader, sentiment is deep rooted in Kashmir. Ups and downs are part of any movement. Some times tempo is high and sometimes it’s low.”
“Kashmir issue is very much alive and new generation has taken over the sentiment. Ours is an indigenous movement and New Delhi should accept that. There is lack of political understanding in New Delhi,” he added. (KNS)