India on Thursday hit out at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation for inviting the chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference to attend its foreign ministerial meeting in Islamabad next week.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a key religious and separatist figure in Kashmir, has removed his designation as 'Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference' from his X profile, signaling a potential shift in the region's political landscape.
Differences had cropped up within the hard-line faction after Geelani rejected the invitation to visit Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on June 2 and further hardened his stand.\n
The Moderate All Parties Hurriyat Conference Thursday served a show cause notice on three of its senior leaders for their recent utterances and causing ruckus at a recent meeting of the APHC executive.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that two more constituents of the Jammu and Kashmir-based Hurriyat Conference, J&K Tahreeqi Isteqlal and J&K Tahreek-I-Istiqamat, have abandoned separatism and pledged allegiance to the new India envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This development follows similar declarations from the Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement (JKPM) and the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Political Movement (JKDPM) on Tuesday. Shah stated that under Modi's leadership, separatism is on the decline and the unity of India is growing stronger in Kashmir.
Former separatist leader Bilal Gani Lone criticizes the Hurriyat Conference for its irrelevance and Pakistan for creating problems in Jammu and Kashmir, urging a new approach for the region's future.
Two constituents of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) in Jammu and Kashmir have announced they are severing all ties with separatist groups. Union Home Minister Amit Shah welcomed the decision, asserting it will strengthen India's unity. The Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement (JKPM) and the J&K Democratic Political Movement (JKDPM) have both distanced themselves from the separatist ideology, vowing allegiance to India and the Constitution. The JKPM, led by Shahid Saleem, and the JKDPM, led by Shafi Reshi, issued statements detailing their decision. Shah said the move is a big victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a developed, peaceful, and unified India. The APHC, which has been banned by the government, has been unable to address the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Saleem said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Friday that another constituent of the separatist amalgam Hurriyat Conference, the Jammu and Kashmir Mass Movement, has rejected secessionism and declared complete commitment to the unity of the country. This marks the 12th Hurriyat-linked organization to break off from separatism and reaffirm their trust in the Indian Constitution. Shah attributed this trend to the unifying policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, which he believes has "tossed" separatism out of Jammu and Kashmir.
National Conference President Omar Abdullah on Thursday termed as "unfortunate" the non-participation of Hurriyat Conference in the maiden Kashmiri leadership conference held in Pakistan.
The meeting was called to finalise the agenda for APHC's talks with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Delivering the sermon, he said election and "resolution of the Kashmir issue" were two different things.
Geelani also criticised porous borders, self-governance and other formulas being put forth by the Pakistan President, General Parvez Musharraf, to meet India midway in resolving the Kashmir dispute.
The protesters assembled outside the office of the Mirwaiz Umar Farooq-led Hurriyat at Rajbagh in Srinagar and held a protest.
'Every way ends on the negotiating tableĀ We welcome and fully support the talks between Government of India and Hurriyat Conference,' Mohammad Akbar Bhat said.
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil had said yesterday that the talks would be held 'within the four walls fo the Constitution'.
The Union minister, however, indicated the dates for the talks would be set after a discussion with the Hurriyat leaders.
To support tourists affected by the attack or in need of information, Jammu and Kashmir police set up a dedicated help desk at the Police Control Room.
New Delhi had suggested April 14 or 15 for a meeting between the APHC and the PM, but Hurriyat Conference representatives will be reaching Delhi only on April 16.
In 2022 Nanaji Dembi pulled down the Hurriyat office board in Srinagar, an act of defiance that grabbed headlines. Despite such nationalistic bravado, the BJP has denied him a ticket for the assembly election.
PM denies rift over talks with Hurriyat as he departs on his 3-nation tour
Favouring a ceasefire in Kashmir coinciding with Eid next month, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference on Tuesday said this would build moral pressure on militant outfits.
The pro-Pakistan Peoples League criticised Mirwaiz Umer Farooq for holding talks with the Centre.
Accusing Delhi of insincerity, the Hurriyat said the talks would resume only if the government ended "human rights violation" in Jammu and Kashmir.
However, the government's response in the event of the Hurriyat pulling out of the talks was not clear.
Moderate Hurriyat leader Maulana Abbas Ansari says he expected peace talks between India and Pakistan to resume soon.
'We want New Delhi and Islamabad to include Kashmiris in the talks while addressing the Kashmir issue,' Hurriyat chairman Mohammad Abbas Ansari said.