The Hindu : National : Geelani not averse to Pandits' return

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 15, 2004

National

National

Geelani not averse to Pandits' return

By Our Special Correspondent

SRINAGAR, SEPT. 14. The All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader, Syed Ali Geelani, has welcomed the prospective return of the Kashmiri Pandits to the Kashmir Valley saying they were a part and parcel of Jammu and Kashmir's rich culture.

At a delegates convention here today, Mr. Geelani, who heads a faction of the APHC, however, said that the proposed creation of separate security zones for the Pandits was against the traditional brotherhood of Kashmiris.

"We welcome the return of lakhs of Kashmiri migrants, including our Pandit brethren, who have been suffering in different parts of India in blistering heat, but we are against the idea of creating separate security zones for them."

Signal to Mirwaiz faction

The State's non-Muslims were also being victimised along with their Muslim brethren, he claimed.

The presence of a large number of delegates at the convention was proof that the Hurriyat represented the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he said and tried to signal to the group led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq that his (Mr. Geelani's) was the real Hurriyat.

Maintaining that people of Kashmir had made a lot of sacrifices, Mr. Geelani said there was no possibility of a political sell-out at this stage. The people "desire azadi," he said. The "construction of roads, bridges and employment cannot be substitute for azadi or the reward for the blood of our martyrs."

He urged the Central Government to shun its rigid stand on the Kashmir issue and accept the ground realities. It should not ignore the fact that Pakistan was also a party to the dispute.

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

National