Janata Dal-United leader Sharad Yadav and Communist leaders Sitaram Yechury and D. Raja went to meet Geelani but the hardline Hurriyat leader refused to even let them in, informed sources said.
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Sharad Yadav, Yechury and Raja earlier went to meet Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik at a police hub turned into a prison at Humhama, close to the Srinagar airport, on the outskirts of the city. Mr Malik also told the opposition MPs: “Our stated policy is that we will not talk to anyone under Indian Constitution”.
The separatists rebuffed the offer of talks made by some parliamentarians who broke from regular meetings yesterday and reached out to convince them to present their point of view before the delegation.
“Some members of the delegation went to meet Hurriyat leaders”.
“This is a futile exercise”.
In a statement, Geelani asked India to acknowledge the disputed status of the Kashmir valley and begin demilitarisation to hold a referendum. We will not be able to arrive at any solution if India only talks to Kashmiris or Pakistan talks to Kashmiris. “We should try and solve this issue which can otherwise result in hostilities between the two neighbouring nations”, said Ghani Bhat.
After calls for an interactive approach to seeking solutions to end the long-standing dispute in the state, Singh had said that the Center will take a decision regarding Kashmir, after the feedback and suggestions received by the all party delegation. The delegation has come here to cool the volatile situation arising out of violent protests that have gripped the Valley since the killing of Hizbul militant Burhan Wani on July 8. Police sources said almost 100 people were injured in clashes between stone-pelting protesters and security forces at various places.
Mirwaiz was cold to Owaisi, saying the Hurriyat had already decided not to meet the MPs who had come with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Abdul Gani Butt and Shabir Ahmed Shah met them briefly but refused to talk on Kashmir or the prevailing situation. The delegation is expected to interact with a cross-section of people for restoration of peace in the border state which has been mired in strife over the past several months. “They have to identify the stakeholders and invite”, he said in the presence of Tariq Anwar of Nationalist Congress Party, a UPA constituent.
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Jama’at-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir Sunday condemned the “callous attitude of Indian forces and their excesses” upon peaceful protestors in Kashmir and termed it undemocratic and unjustified. Singh’s team will also be holding meetings with representatives of all political parties and other delegations in Srinagar, during the visit.
