Centre must accept JK as disputed territory: Geelani

In a bid to break the current impasse, teams of the all-party delegation to Kashmir on Monday separately met Hurriyat leaders and gave them a patient hearing but the separatists insisted on withdrawal of Army and asked the Centre to take bold decisions instead of being in a "denial mode".

Chairman of hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani demanded that Jammu and Kashmir should be accepted as a "disputed" territory as a pre-condition for starting the dialogue process with the Centre.

Interacting with five-members of the all-party delegation which called on him at his Hyderpora residence here, Geelani suggested that Parliament should constitute a committee to go into all the issues faced by Kashmiri people.

"We have given five-points for starting the dialogue process for resolution of Kashmir issue which includes accepting Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory," Geelani told the team, led by CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury.

Among the other conditions laid down by the hardline leader include initiation of complete demilitarisation of the state, commitment from the Prime Minister to put an end to the killings and arrests of youths, unconditional release of all political prisoners and withdrawal of cases against youths.

He has also sought arrest and prosecution of security personnel allegedly responsible for killing of youths during the ongoing unrest. During the interaction, which was held in full media glare, the hardline leader said the people of Kashmir were only demanding right to self-determination as promised by the leaders of the country from time to time.

"The Indian troops have no justification -- moral or legal - to occupy Jammu and Kashmir. We are not demanding secession of any legal part of India but only our right to self-determination," he said.

Yechury told Geelani that the delegation had come to convey their sympathies with the people of the Valley and for initiating a process to resolve the problem.

"It is necessary that peace should prevail in the Valley. Then we can discuss the disputes and issues," he said.
Lok Sabha MP Assadudin Owaisi also pleaded with Geelani to give peace a chance. The other members of the delegation included Ratan Singh Ajnala (Akali Dal), T R Balu (DMK) and Namo Nageshwara Rao (TDP).

Although the hardline faction of Hurriyat had rejected the invitation to meet the all party delegation, Geelani had said he would not turn away anyone from his door as it was not in line with the Kashmiri ethos and Islamic traditions.

Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said Parliament should pass a resolution to put an end to the killings in Kashmir and for initiating a sustained dialogue process for resolution of the long pending issue.

Interacting with another all-party team at his Nigeen residence here, Mirwaiz told them the time had come for Parliament of India to take bold decisions with regard to Kashmir issue as the Centre has been in a constant state of denial mode.