Monday, Sep 08, 2003
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By Praveen Swami
Mr. Alam's election by the dissidents came during a meeting called yesterday by the Jamaat-e-Islami leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani. The APHC centrists, however, said the decision violated the coalition's constitution, which enables only its seven-member executive council to elect the chairman. The dissidents argued that a majority of the general council was empowered to amend the organisation's constitution, and elect a new leader. Today's events come after months of sniping between Islamists and centrists. Mr. Geelani had launched a frontal offensive against the centrists earlier this year, shortly after his release from jail as part of the State Government's `healing touch' agenda. His campaigning centred around calls for the removal of the pro-dialogue People's Conference, whose leader, Abdul Gani Lone, had been assassinated by terrorists in the run-up to last year's Assembly elections. People's Conference leaders subsequently participated in the elections. Mr. Lone's son, Sajjad Lone, said those who contested the elections were dissidents, acting without party authorisation. The fracas that followed eventually led the Jamaat-e-Islami to remove Mr. Geelani as its representative in the APHC, and replace him with Ashraf Sehrai. Subsequently, Mr. Geelani charged APHC leaders with having betrayed what he describes as a freedom struggle. The veteran Jamaat-e-Islami leader repeatedly threatened to break the APHC, and set up a parallel body which, he claimed, would truly represent the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Mr. Alam, released from jail along with Mr. Geelani, was among his most enthusiastic supporters.No authoritative version of the legitimacy of today's meeting has so far become available. G.M. Hubbi, who represented the People's Conference at the meeting, said he had the support of his party. No formal conclave, however, authorised him to act against his party leadership. Several other party representatives were in a similar position. Today's events come days after the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to Srinagar. Mr. Vajpayee had asserted that negotiations would only be held with groups which renounced violence, a blow to APHC centrists who expected more generous terms. The Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, in turn, had said the APHC would have to negotiate with the Centre's official interlocutor on Jammu and Kashmir, N.N. Vohra. Mr. Ansari had repeatedly made clear his desire for direct talks with the Prime Minister, a position unacceptable to New Delhi. Mr. Ansari's position, some believe, was a response to pressure from armed Islamist groups.
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