The Hindu : Front Page : Ansari offers to step down

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 22, 2004

Front Page

Front Page

Ansari offers to step down

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, MAY 21. The All-Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman, Moulana Abbas Ansari, today offered to step down and proposed its founder chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq's name as his successor, in a bid to unite the two Hurriyat factions. He also proposed to the leadership of India and Pakistan to hold talks in Kashmir.

Speaking at a gathering organised to commemorate the death anniversary of Mirwaiz Mohammad

Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone on this day in 1990 and 2002 respectively, Mr. Ansari said: "If I am a hurdle in the unity of the two factions [his group and the Syed Ali Shah Geelani-led breakaway faction], I am ready to step down and propose to make Mr. Umar Farooq the new chairman of the amalgam to bring unity among the two factions."

Reacting to the statement, Mr. Umar Farooq said that it was not the question of chairmanship but the issue of unity which was more important.

Earlier, Mr. Umar Farooq, alongwith Mr. Ansari, Abdul Gani Bhat, Bilal Lone and others led a procession from Jamia Masjid to the "martyr's graveyard" at Eidgah amid chanting of pro-freedom and pro-Pakistan slogans.

Today's meeting was organised under the shadow of a threat by the militant outfit, Save Kashmir Movement (SKM), which had asked the people to stay away from the programmes of the Hurriyat saying that its leaders were agents of New Delhi and Washington.

"We are not sacred of your threats because we believe in the power of the people. Only Kashmiris can decide about their fate. We have all shed blood and we are not for sell-out. We will continue the dialogue come what may, we are the leaders and we have to give a direction,'' Mr. Umar Farooq said. "The Hurriyat will be happy to play its part if India, Pakistan chose Srinagar as the venue for talks." He said it was Jawaharlal Nehru who promised to resolve the Kashmir dispute. "It is the Congress legacy, so you should take steps to resolve it."

The Hurriyat leaders said the dialogue with New Delhi would continue.

"If the dialogue is going to be on the same lines on which we initiated it with the previous Government we will go ahead and if that is not the case we will have no hesitation in withdrawing."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News Update

Stories in this Section

Draft CMP proclaims six governing principles

RJD, NCP ready to join government

Monsoon sets in

Ansari offers to step down

Court quashes notification on abolition of districts

Ghauri-III launch

Death for Pakistani

CBSE results tomorrow

Kanshi Ram mother's charge against Mayawati

2 killed, British envoy among 50 injured in Bangladesh blast