Font Size 
Hurriyat willing to take part in 2008 J&K polls
Published on Sat, Nov 03, 2007 at 09:07, Updated at Sat, Nov 03, 2007 in Nation section
Tags: Kashmir, Hurriyat Conference , Srinagar
IN POSITION: Farooq has hinted that the Hurriyat is willing to participate in the 2008 Assembly Elections.
Other stories in the section:
MNS can't hold people to ransom, court warns Raj
MNS leader warned against attacking traders, 'disturbing' business.
Srinagar: As mainstream parties in Kashmir gear up for the 2008 Assembly Elections, separatists outfits in the valley too seem mellowing their stance.
In an exclusive interview Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), Mirwaiz Umer Farooq has hinted that the Hurriyat is willing to participate in the polls.
“If India and Pakistan are able to get people involved and some sort of an understanding is reached whether it is a four-point formula or whether its self governance and other ideas if they are accepted if they are addressed and even if an interim solution is discussed, Hurriyat has always said that we are never scared to go into elections.” Says
But at the moment, the Hurriyat plans to boycott the polls as usual.
“As far as the present structure is concerned there is no scope for the Hurriyat in it,” says Farooq.
And it is after a long silence the Hurriyat Conference has pitched in with an idea.
“Certainly constitutionally and legally we can have a position as it existed before 1953, I have no doubt in my mind,” says Constitutional Expert, Zafar Shah.
Hurriyat points out that the state already enjoys a special status under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution.
It also has its own Constitution and a separate state flag. And what is more, even regional parties support a rollback to the pre-1953 status.
“If they go to 53 status, I will be the happiest man, but they must meet the Prime Minister, they should go and talk to him, its no use remaining quiet about it and giving press statements. We have no quarrel at all as long as they take part in polls,” says former chief minister, Farooq Abdullah.
“It is welcome step that they are saying something for the first time, something very concrete is coming from them, but at the same time they have to be more precise, what is they would like in 53,” adds President, PDP, Mehbooba Mufti.
A National Conference proposal for such a roll back had been rejected outright by the NDA government in 2002.
The present UPA government has so far preferred to tread cautiously on Kashmir.
But CNN-IBN has learnt that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh plans to send a fresh invite to Hurriyat sometime in November.
The question now is-will Centre take the Hurriyat offer seriously?
More Headlines from Nation
| Related links: | |
Total Comments: 1
Read Comment | Post Comment
So long the practical and humanitarian solutions are not acceptable to the trouble shooters these created problems will continue to
Read Comment
Read more comment »