SRINAGAR: The — all party Hurriyat Conference, a joint forum of political parties, religious bodies and trade unions which espouse the cause of secession, Nov.26 welcomed the forthcoming secretary level talks between India and Pakistan. However, it emphasized that these talks would not be fruitful without the participation of the Kashmir people, who were the main party to the dispute.”

A resolution adopted by the Huriyat on Noy.25 endorsed by the Friday congregation at Jama Masjid, demanded a dialogue including the genuine representatives of the people of the state. It recalled that the Tashkent and the Shimla agreements between India and Pakistan also the Indira Abdullah and the Rajiv Faroog accords had failed because in each case only two of the three parties were involved.

The resolution was placed before the people by the Hurriyat president, Maulvi Mohammad Umar Faroog. Earlier, another Hurriyat leader, Prof Abdul Gani, said the resumption of Indo Pakistan talks was the outcome of the recent Hazrathal crisis which had focused international attention on Kashmir.

The Hurriyat, which had given the government six days to remove the newly elected bunkers around Hazratbal, deferred its proposed march till Dec.7, one occasion on the Islamic calendar when the sacred relic is publicly displayed; Gani exhorted the people to be ready for sacrifice in case the government did not remove the bunkers by them.

A general strike was observed in the Valley on Nov.26 in protest against the bunkers. All shops and business establishments were closed and traffic remained off the road, except for two hours in the afternoon to carry people to the Jama Masjid.

Neither the Hurriyat leaders reiterated that the ritual cleansing of the Hazratbal shrine would not be carried out nor any prayers held there till the bunkers were removed.

The authorities have given no indication that the bunkers are to be removed. A highly placed official dismissed as “farfetched” the speculation that the bunkers were to be removed before the Indo Pakistan talks. Pakistan had earlier made the lifting of the Hazratbal siege a precondition for talks with India.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 3, 1993