| Drubbed NC knocking separatists' door for survival | | Party pleading for halt to jibes, accusations, taunts | | Peerzada Ummer
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 17: In a bid to save its face from further scolding and accusations, the National Conference has finally reached at the door steps of the separatists, requesting them not to open party's past files during its tenure as the opposition party. Several leaders of NC, privy to this development, confirmed that the party has established some contacts with the separatist groups, asking them not to pitch against the National Conference as the party no longer rules the state and that it should be allowed to raise 'peoples' issues'.
NC, as per sources, is scared that the separatist groups might corner it over certain contentious issues including the killing of Haji Yousuf, mis-governance and cracking whip over civilians in its tenure of past six years.
In the initial phase, the separatist camp here began sharpening its knives against the National Conference, terming it the party against the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
It was later the tirade of accusations got pacified with the statements carrying no rhetoric at all.
NC has always been showering praise on the separatists in bid to get its purpose fulfilled. It has even termed the hardcore separatist Syed Ali Geelani a real leader of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. NC's general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar ahead of the polls last year in a detailed statement to press eulogized Geelani and his aides, claiming that the national conference confesses the leadership of Syed Ali Geelani. On October 30, last year, Sagar claimed: "Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani has strong foothold in Kashmir and people follow his calls. The truth is the Geelani is leader of people."
On November 22, Omar began to speak Geelani's language pitching for Kashmir resolution with Pakistan as a stakeholder. Addressing election rallies in North Kashmir, Omar Abdullah said that both India and Pakistan would have to settle the Kashmir Issue according to the sentiments and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Omar Abdullah said the people of J&K were the primary stakeholders of their political destiny and any possible solution would have to respect their dignity and sentiments.
Taking a leap further, Omar while sensing defeat in the state elections preferred bird in hand than the one in bush. Omar on November 27 termed the larger voter participation not the defeat of the separatists who earlier had given the boycott call.
"Everything is being said and done with a proper strategy. It is not like an outburst of emotions. NC has earlier also praised separatists and tried to develop with them a good relation," says NC insider, adding that if a crusade of accusations is halted for a while against the party that has lost the recent battle, there is no harm in the development.
If sources are to be believed, NC even has deputed some of its men to remain in constant contact with the anti establishment elements in valley so that they could not train guns any further against NC. "If we maintain silence on part of the separatist groups against our party, we can easily corner the government art every move with no one here to make us nostalgic."
Some NC leaders, as per sources, have also telephoned some separatists, asking them not to issue any statement against NC, if not in favour. The results seem to galore. There are no accusations, no jibes and no taunts against NC, coming out from separatists these days. |
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