Maintaining that parliamentary and Assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir do not affect the legal and historic position of Kashmir issue, the pro-dialogue faction of separatist Hurriyat Conference has indicated that it would remain indifferent to electoral process. The amalgam reiterated its demand for initiation of efforts to resolve the K-issue in the ambit of “justice and equality”.
Observers say that Hurriyat’s stand on the elections is significant in the backdrop of hardline stance maintained by rival faction led by Syed Ali Geelani, who has called for a poll-boycott. The pro-dialogue faction has resented poll-boycott campaigns since 2002 and this has been one of the major causes for the Hurriyat’s fragmentation in 2003.
“Elections are not alternative to right of self determination,” a Hurriyat statement said after the culmination of a joint session of its executive council, general council and working committee at the amalgam’s Rajbagh headquarters.
Geelani stresses on poll-boycott saying that the Government of India “misleads” the international community by describing the participation in polls as people’s approval to Indian rule in Jammu & Kashmir. Geelani has also opposed Mirwaiz Umar Farooq-led Hurriyat’s past efforts to engage in dialogue process with the Centre. However, despite Geelani’s disapproval, Mirwaiz has offered to reengage with the Centre in the same format as it was involved in AB Vajpayee-led NDA regime in 2003.
The Hurriyat claimed that they have formally forwarded suggestions to Government of India but they have not been implemented.
Former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Amarjit Singh Dullat, who has been Vajpayee’s adviser on Kashmir affairs and a key player in involving Hurriyat leaders in dialogue process, has said that the separatists had promised the Central Government to forward written proposals but they never did it.
Hurriyat has not elaborated as to how they forwarded the suggestions to the Central Government. The Hurriyat opted to pull out of the dialogue process when the Central Government showed cold shoulder to them after 26/11 attacks in Mumbai in 2008 and worsening of internal situation in Pakistan.
However, there are indications that Central Government is keen to revive its contacts with the Hurriyat and moderate faction has shown eagerness to reengage in negotiations.
“Meaningful dialogue is key to Kashmir’s resolution,” Mirwaiz told the meeting, which discussed the Hurriyat leaders’ recent talks with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief’s foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz in New Delhi.