The Mirwaiz, who was speaking to a rally in Kishtwar, some 30 kms south of here, during his current tour of the Muslim-majority areas of the Jammu region, Saturday called upon migrant Kashmiri Hindus to return to Kashmir, and ruled out having differences with the chairman of the rival faction of his Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani. “It is undeniable that India has repeatedly tried to crush our movement with military might, and every inch of our land has been drenched with the blood of martyrs,” he said. “India has done this to keep Kashmiris away from their demand of the right of self determination. But I assure you that our struggle will continue till we achieve our basic right,” he said. “India has been trying hard to link the Kashmir issue with terrorism, Taliban and Al Qaida, but with our agitation last year we showed the entire world violence was not being used by the masses but that the government was indulging in terrorism of the worst kind,” he said. The Mirwaiz again rejected bilateral talks, saying that triangular negotiations would pave the way for a tripartite process, and that the right of self-determination would lead to a solution in accord with the aspirations and sentiments of the Kashmiri people. “The Hurriyat Conference has already placed a six-point proposal before the government of India for this,” he said. “Our perspective on the solution of the Kashmir issue has been accepted by the UN, the OIC and other recognized world bodies, which is a victory for the indelogy and the stand of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. The Mirwaiz reiterated his alliance’s belief in a united Jammu and Kashmir, and said that the Hurriyat would not accept any solution leading to the division of the state. “Jammu and Kashmir is one unit, and we cannot ignore any of its constituents in working out a solution to the Kashmir issue,” he said. Rejecting having differences with Geelani, the Mirwaiz said that both had the same goals, and there was no question of any discord. He, however, said that differences could exist on methodologies. “This cannot be overlooked as strategies can be changed to achieve goals,” he said. He said that his alliance was engaged in getting all groups outside the Hurriyat fold on board to make the current movement successful, and asserted that attempts were afoot to forge unity in the separatist camp. Defending his policy of entering into a dialogue with New Delhi, the Mirwaiz said that neither India nor Pakistan could take flight from talks, and that was the reason the Hurriyat was prepared to take its case to any place or forum. “If India takes one step to resolve the Kashmir issue, the Hurriyat is prepared to take two,” he said. “We are prepared for a dialogue underlined with sincerity, but would like to make it clear that we don’t favour talks merely for the sake of talks, but want a serious process where the inclusion of the Kashmiri people is assured,” he said. “Kashmir is not a border issue or a religious dispute, but a matter concerning the political future of over 1.5 crore people living on the two sides of the Line of Control,” he said. “The sacrifices we have offered in life and property, and the sacrifices our mothers and daughters have offered with their honour, are not for sops, interests or subsidies but for our right of self-determination and liberty,” he said. “Violent assaults, arrests and detentions are not a solution to the issue. The issue will not be solved by putting Umer Farooq and Syed Ali Shah Geelani in jail, because the movement does not belong to any individual or group but to the masses, and is backed by unparalleled sacrifices,” he said. The Mirwaiz demanded that the village defence committees (VDCs) set up in Jammu areas by the government and which comprise members of Hindu minority, be disarmed immediately, as they were a cause of fear and insecurity among the Muslim population.
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