NATION | Saturday, November 21, 2009 | Email | Print | 
Differences within Hurriyat on talks with Centre
Khursheed Wani | Srinagar
Mirwaiz Omar Farooq, Chairman of moderate faction of separatist Hurriyat Conference seemed to be conceding two facts in his Friday sermon. One implies that he is perturbed by the media reports that he has had two rounds of "quiet talks" with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi. Also, the conflict within the separatist camp on the dialogue process is not between doves and hawks alone, but the moderate group is plagued with internal strife.
"The agencies which do not want resolution of Kashmir issue are back in action. A section of Indian media is supporting them. To frustrate their designs don’t pay heed to rumours", Mirwaiz told the Friday gathering at Jamia Masjid in an apparent reference to his "secret meetings" with P Chidambaram. He said that India was under immense international pressure to resolve the Kashmir issue.
Unconfirmed media reports suggested that Mirwaiz had a one-to-one with Chidambaram on his way to New York in September where he met Pakistan President Asif Zardari and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. And, last week, Mirwaiz and his two colleagues met the Home Minister again. Though Mirwaiz accepts that back channel contact has been established, he repeatedly denies reports on his meetings with Chidambaram.
Mirwaiz’s adversaries have started a whisper campaign on his renewed contacts. "There is some truth in the reports. I logically believe that P Chidambaram announced quiet dialogue in Kashmir only after his first meeting with Mirwaiz", a leader of Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference said.
Sources said that Geelani, his aides and a section of leaders and activists within Mirwaiz’s faction who are opposed to bilateral talks with New Delhi contribute to the campaign, both privately and publicly. Mirwaiz, however, boldly advocates dialogue process and announces to walk extra mile to find "durable and acceptable solution to Kashmir issue".
In an attempt to build up consensus on dialogue, Mirwaiz started contacting other separatist leaders. He received a cold shoulder from Geelani and a typical ambiguous reception from JKLF leader Yasin Malik who knows the craft of hunting with hound and running with hare.
Within his own faction, Mirwaiz is facing opposition for his approach on the dialogue process. In a recent inconclusive meeting of the Hurriyat’s executive and general councils and the Working Committee, a section of leaders and constituent representatives opposed the way Mirwaiz is embarking on the dialogue path. The most prominent voices came from Shabir Shah and Nayeem Khan, who are openly castigating Mirwaiz’s stance on talks.
"On this crucial juncture, it is essential that pro-movement organizations refrain from mud-slinging and baseless criticism on each other and seriously ponder over a strategy favouring our tahreek (movement)", he said in his Friday speech.
Mirwaiz said that coordination is not only essential within his faction of Hurriyat but also with the organizations and individuals outside the Hurriyat fold.
Observers say that Mirwaiz is the most important leader in the dialogue process but his sustained relevance would be directly proportional to his success in cobbling up a consensus within the separatist camp. "The ground situation in Kashmir always dictates the success or failure of any process initiated in Kashmir", said journalist Rashid Ahmad.
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