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| Separatists not willing to participate in 2008 Assembly poll | | |
Srinagar,July 7
All major separatist groups have announced that they will not participate in the next Assembly election if the Kashmir was not settled by 2008.Though ideologically in conflict with one another these separatist groups have one thing common that is their stand on the non participation in the Assembly poll.
Chief of Tehrik Hurriyat Conference,Syed Ali Shah Geelani,has said “without the settlement of the Kashmir issue we cannot take part in the poll.The poll should be held in a free atmosphere and I believe the next generation will take part in election as by then the issue must have been settled.””We experimented with participation in the election for 15 years but it did not settle the Kashmir issue.we cannot repeat the experiment ,”he added
The Democratic Freedom Party Chief,Shabir Ahmed Shah,said that “my participation in the election is out of question.I want the Kashmir issue to be resolved first.”Mr Shah,however,hastened to add,”I can consider participation in the election if it is held under the supervision of the UN observers or by a joint election commission comprising prominent citizens,jurists,journalists and experts not only from India but from Pakistan administered Kashmir also.”
The APHC leadership is not also prepared to contest the election.It does not subscribe to the view of Shabir Shah on holding the election under the supervision of UN observers on the ground that India will not accept any UN role in Kashmir.A senior APHC leader,Prof. Abdul Gani Bhat,said “we can consider participation in the election if the four-point proposal of Gen. Musharraf was implemented in letter and spirit.”He added “we want open borders,release of all detainees,withdrawal of troops and expeditious progress in the ongoing dialogue between India and Pakistan .”
Chief of JKLF,Mohd.Yasin Mailk said “no question of taking part in the election.our struggle has been for the resolution of the Kashmir issue and not for facilitating our participation in the Assembly poll.The poll is held for the formation of the Government and we are not for power.”
Chairman Peoples’ Conference,Sajjad Gani Lone,said “if the ongoing Delhi-Islamabad talks further progress and we feel that the settlement of the Kashmir issue is in sight we can take part in the elections provided Delhi and Islamabad suggest to us in doing so.”
A senior BJP leader,Dr Nirmal singh,said “the separatists were scared of taking part in the election because the areas of their influence was limited in several pockets of Kashmir only.”He said “if the separatists refuse to participate in the election their oft repeated claim that they represent people of Kashmir will be questioned.They can demonstrate their representative character if they win majority of 87 Assembly seats.”
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