Geelani, Kashmir Inc won’t meet all-party team

Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and some other like-minded leaders and parties have decided not to meet the all-party delegation during its visit here later this week.

They have termed the trip a “futile exercise” in the backdrop of the resolution passed unanimously in the Lok Sabha on August 12 which asserted that there can be no compromise with the country’s “unity, integrity and national security”.

Kashmiri businesses also announced that they would not meet the all-party delegation, asserting that such “half-hearted” measures won’t solve any purpose. A statement issued here said that the heads of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Kashmir Economic Alliance, Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation, the Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir and All Kashmir Fruit Growers Association, at an emergency meeting, unanimously resolved that meeting the visiting delegation “would be nothing beyond a foolish exercise aimed at photo session, which will only end up in rubbing salt into the wounds of Kashmiris caught in worst ever humanitarian crises.”

Earlier, the Rajya Sabha too had passed a resolution which while expressing its serious concern over the prolonged turbulence, violence and curfew in the Kashmir Valley had also said that there cannot be any compromise on national security. “What are they coming to Kashmir then for ” the octogenarian separatist leader asked. He added, “The writing on the wall is clear. The people of Kashmir want freedom from India. Evidently, the All-Party Delegation is not authorised to negotiate on or even discuss this vital and fundamental issue”. A statement issued by the Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference faction quoted him saying, “The Indian parliamentary delegation is coming to Kashmir after passing a resolution that Kashmir is an integral part of India; hence it neither has mandate nor the intention to resolve the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.”

He asked “all stakeholders” to refrain from engaging with the delegation. He said, “We suggest to all stakeholders to refrain from engaging in this meaningless exercise by meeting this delegation.”

Mr Geelani said that both houses of Parliament should hold a special session at which the disputed nature of Kashmir may be accepted in unequivocal and unambiguous terms to pave the way for holding a referendum in whole of Jammu and Kashmir as it existed prior to the division of the State in 1947. “That would ensure a settlement of the dispute permanently, peacefully and democratically,” he said.

As the civil unrest in Kashmir is unabated, the government is facilitating a two-day visit by an all-party delegation to Srinagar and Jammu from September 4 for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and also to meet the local leadership and other stakeholders to know their views.

The delegation will be led by Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, and will include other senior Cabinet ministers including Arun Jaitley and Ram Vilas Paswan as well as opposition leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad and Asaduddin Owaisi.

The government has already indicated that members of the delegation will be free to meet any leader or individual or groups “including separatists”. But Mr. Singh’s meetings will be “restricted” and he is likely to interact with only those who are keen to discuss and help resolve all issues within the framework of the Constitution.

Kashmiri businesses also announced that they would not meet the all-party delegation, asserting that such “half-hearted” measures won’t solve any purpose. A statement issued here said that the heads of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Kashmir Economic Alliance, Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation, the Federation Chamber of Industries Kashmir and All Kashmir Fruit Growers Association, at an emergency meeting, unanimously resolved that meeting the visiting delegation “would be nothing beyond a foolish exercise aimed at photo session, which will only end up in rubbing salt into the wounds of Kashmiris caught in worst ever humanitarian crises.”

The statement added, “Let the mockery of symbolic Kashmir visits over our tragedy end and seriousness begin for an effort for sustainable solution to Kashmir dispute”. It also said that even Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, recently sought a permanent solution of Kashmir problem which, it asserted, can’t come through “cosmetic patchwork” wherein All-Party Delegation comes to Kashmir with a “rigid” stance on the issue. “Tangible measures need to be taken by also taking Pakistan on board as per ‘Agenda of Alliance (of ruling coalition partners PDP and BJP), the statement said.

The Kashmir Inc asked the visiting delegates like Mr. Owaisi, Sitaram Yechury and Sharad Yadav who had been part of such delegations in the past too “to ask to their conscience if it is genuine to visit Kashmir for a symbolic effort once again, befooling the victimised people of the Valley who continue to be under siege for around two months now”.

Sayeda Aasiya Andrabi, the leader of all-women right-wing Dukhtara-e-Millat (Daughters of the Faith) has, meanwhile, asked people to wave Pakistan’s national flag in every nook and corner of Kashmir during the delegation’s visit to send message across that Kashmir is not part of India. “People will hold Pakistan flag in every nook and corner of Kashmir on September 4 to send a clear message to the visiting Indian parliamentarians that J&K isn’t ‘India’s integral part’ but wants to be free of its illegal occupation”. She also said that the people should not pin any hope on the visiting delegation “because all of them are of the notion that ‘J&K is India’s integral part and want to seek a solution within the ambit of Indian Constitution...the visit is only meant to apply salt to the wounds of the people here.”