The fragmented separatist camp in Kashmir faced another split with a group of low-profile activists calling it quits from the Mirwaiz Umar Farooq-led faction of Hurriyat Conference — one of the three functional factions of the erstwhile amalgam set up in 1993 to lead the political movement for the resolution of Kashmir issue.
Apart from Mirwaiz-led faction, two other factions are led by senior separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Shabir Shah, which were respectively launched in 2003 and 2014. Sources said six functionaries of Mirwaiz’s faction — Zaffar Akbar Bhat of Salvation Movement, Hakeem Abdul Rashid of Muslim league, Syed Bashir Andrabi of Kashmir Freedom Front Chairman, Saleem Geelani of National Peoples Party, Sheikh Yaqoob of Peoples league and Yasmeen Raja of women’s group Muslim Khawateen Markat distanced themselves from the amalgam accusing Mirwaiz of “advocating secret talks and violating the 1993 constitution.”
All the estranged members belonged to Hurriyat’s inferior General Council that is subservient to 7-member executive council. A spokesman of Mirwaiz’s faction said these rebels were stressing for inclusion in the executive council-the highest decision making body of the amalgam.
“There is definitely more to all this than meets the eye and very soon the actual reason of their quitting will be known to all,” the spokesman clarified. Reports said the estranged members are likely to form another faction of Hurriyat or join the hardline faction led by Syed Ali Geelani.
There are some separatist groups in Kashmir like JKlF, Dukhtaran-e-Millat and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, which were previously aligned with Hurriyat Conference but have maintained a safe distance from all factions since the splits occurred.
Most of the engineers of latest split are known for their changing loyalties. A leader of the rebel group accused Mirwaiz Umar Farooq of deviating from the constitution guidelines for holding bilateral talks and hampering process to change the guard periodically. However, Mirwaiz’s spokesman rubbished the allegations with surprise.
“Regarding the constitution of the Hurriyat or its functioning they (rebels) never expressed any disagreement and till yesterday (Saturday) extended their full support by implementing the programmes of the organisation,” he said.
Maintaining that peaceful resolution to the Kashmir issue could be found either by implementing the UN resolutions or by meaningful dialogue among the three parties — India, Pakistan and the people of J&K, the spokesman said there was no deviation in Hurriyat’s policy to deviate.