Q&A: Sayed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

Hurriyat shuns PM offer, says talks futile

The Hurriyat Conference in Kashmir has been cold to the Prime Minister’s call for dialogue. While they differ on many ideological issues, both Sayed Ali Shah Geelani, hardline leader of the Hurriyat Conference (G) and the moderate Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the Awami Action Committee, told Saubhadra Chatterji that they want the Centre to change its attitude towards Kashmir. Edited excerpts:

The PM has convened an all-party meeting to discuss the Kashmir situation. How do you see this development?
Geelani: For more than 60 years, I have seen and heard at least 150 such talks taking place. But no results have come out. As long as the Indian government doesn’t recognise the actual situation and the truth about Kashmir, talks will be a futile exercise. India must accept the fact that Kashmir is a disputed territory.

Farooq: Honestly, it is about time that the Centre builds a political consensus on the Kashmir issue. But if the Manmohan Singh government is trying to build a consensus on issues like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act or one or two other specific issues, then it means nothing. There should be a political consensus on the overall Kashmir politics. I don’t see any substantial result coming out of the all-party meeting.

The PM has also said that the Centre wants to talk to all sections of the Kashmiri population. Will you come for a dialogue with the Centre?
Geelani: There is no question of sitting with the government at this stage. We had given our five-point formula and the government has to act on it. If the government wants to come to the dialogue table, it should keep in mind the historical background of the Kashmir struggle. So many people have sacrificed their lives for this struggle. You need to respect that sentiment.

Farooq: Any talks between the Centre and the Hurriyat needs a conducive atmosphere. We had given our charter of demands a few years ago that included release of prisoners, revoking AFSPA, imposing accountability, etc. If these measures are taken, only then can we sit for talks. The PM has to show more political understating. The solution to the Kashmir problem doesn’t lie inside the Indian constitution or the Pakistani constitution. There has to be an out of the box idea. Even if they decide to take a few pockets out of AFSPA, it would not mean much because as it is, the army is not present in these areas. The Act should be repealed altogether. Kashmir should be a demilitarised zone. The government needs to see the current problem in a larger picture.

On Monday, the J&K government again alleged that the separatist Hurriyat leaders were inciting violence.
Geelani: I have never favoured violence for the Kashmir cause. I have always asked people to shun violence. Even with folded hands, I have requested our youth not to resort to violence. The government forces are indulging in violence and spraying bullets in the hearts of young people. To cover up their excessive use of forces, they are cooking up these stories.

Farooq: The Indian government always sees the Kashmir problem through the prism of Pakistan. This mindset has to change. Please try and understand that this is a home-grown anger.