By IANS,
Srinagar : While leaders of the moderate faction of Jammu and Kashmir’s separatist Hurriyat Conference remain divided on the efficacy of the “quiet” talks with the central government, members of civil society have urged them to unite to make the dialogue meaningful.
“We are not questioning the capabilities of separatist leaders. But they will have to forge a unity before engaging themselves in a dialogue with the central government. A diverse interest has developed among some leaders. They have to do some introspection and live up to the expectations of people,” Z.G. Mohammad, a local columnist, said at a civil society seminar held here Sunday on the dialogue process.
The constituents of the moderate Hurriyat group generally favour a dialogue process to resolve the Kashmir problem but they appear to be divided in their perception of the “quiet diplomacy” announced by union Home Minister P. Chidambaram.
The executive meeting of the moderate Hurriyat group, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, had ended last week without any consensus on the proposed resumption of talks with New Delhi.
According to Hurriyat insiders, Shabir Shah of the Democratic Freedom Party, an important constituent of the grouping, had pleaded strongly for working out an understanding between the moderate Hurriyat headed by the Mirwaiz and the breakaway group headed by Syed Ali Geelani before restarting the dialogue with New Delhi.
Nayeem Khan, the provincial secretary of the moderate Hurriyat group, had also voiced reservations about the “quiet dialogue” during the Hurriyat executive meeting.
“No single person can decide the fate of the people of Kashmir as it is not the personal legacy of any single separatist leader,” Khan had told a public meeting after the Hurriyat meet.
The seminar held Sunday was attended by academics, social activists and intellectuals who urged the separatist leaders to unite ahead of the talks.
“We are not against the dialogue. But we need to formulate a strategy, including a common minimum programme. The talks should not be held for the sake of talks,” said Noor A. Baba, a university professor.
Meanwhile, a source close to the Mirwaiz refuted reports that the Hurriyat leader had met Chidambaram.
“The Mirwaiz has made it clear that he has not met union Home Minister P. Chidambaram so far and his contact with the central government was so far only at the communication level,” the source said.
“The Mirwaiz would not take any decision in haste and would strive to carry everybody on board before committing himself to the dialogue process,” the source added.
Sources in the moderate Hurriyat also said that the false reports could be aimed at sabotaging the dialogue process.
“Many quarters could be interested in sabotaging the dialogue process and that is why they are trying to create confusion about the proposed dialogue process,” the Hurriyat source said.