SRINAGAR: National Conference president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday asked Hurriyat Conference leaders not to trust the leadership in New Delhi, which, he said, refused to learn lessons from the past.

He accused the United Progressive Alliance Government of dividing the Hurriyat Conference and said a decision on resolving the Kashmir issue could be taken only in Srinagar, and not in Islamabad or New Delhi.

At a meeting organised here to pay homage to 22 martyrs of July 13, 1931, Mr Abdullah, assailing New Delhi, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and the Hurriyat leaders, said "the Kashmiris can neither be purchased with money nor hoodwinked with the hollow slogans of Azadi and Pakistan." Only the people of Kashmir could resolve the issue and a solution thrust on from New Delhi or Islamabad would not be acceptable to them. "Those who think that without the participation of NC any solution is possible live in a fool's paradise."

Criticises Mufti

He said "[the] Mufti does everything which is against the honour and prestige of Kashmiris and he is doing so at the instance of New Delhi." Dismissing the Chief Minister's claims of peace in Kashmir, Mr. Abdullah asked, "Is the blast in Pulwama, Nishat and Biscoe School a sign of peace?"

Cautioning the Hurriyat leaders, he said "even if they [Government of India] invite you they will serve you [only] with a cup of tea and samosa. You will not get anything [else] there. It is only the people of Kashmir who can give you something."

"Patil backed out on commitment"

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil "backed out" on the commitment to constitute a committee to discuss autonomy. "Six months have elapsed, I reminded him twice but it seems he is not going to do it," said Mr. Abdullah.

"What can he [Mr. Patil] discuss with the Hurriyat, which demands Azadi when he is not ready to discuss autonomy with us?"

Delhi also blamed

Mr. Abdullah accused New Delhi of engineering trouble among the Hurriyat leaders.

Holding the Hurriyat leaders responsible for the "endless bloodshed" in Kashmir, Mr. Abdullah said that "in 1990 when then Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal and the Leader of Opposition Rajiv Gandhi wanted to meet them (separatists), they refused, saying they would go to Pakistan.

Now they are begging for a meeting with the Prime Minister of India. Where is that Azadi, where is that Pakistan?"

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