news details |
|
|
| Omar-Umar poll plan runs into muck | | J&K electioneering being engineered in London? | | NIRBHAY JAMMUAL
Jammu | Nov 27
Barring one 'Omar' and another 'Umar', finally all participants from Jammu and Kashmir have called off their London sojourn –but the question still remains that what all the organizers of the Kashmir Peace Conference wanted to achieve.
The London based Kashmir Center is organizing a peace conference beginning tomorrow in the British Parliament, but the controversies surrounding conference is deepening. Almost all members of the influential Kashmiri separatist Diaspora have boycotted the conference.
The rumour doing rounds in the political circles and the main criticism among a majority of separatists says that the conference is aimed at forming a future political alliance between the Mirwaiz Umar Farooq of Hurriyat Conference and Omar Abdullah of the National Conference. Most of the separatist leaders and influential Kashmiris settled in various parts of the world who were supposed to be a part of the conference are alleging that they were kept in dark about invitation to Omar Abdullah which they have strongly objected.
Boycotting the event, leading member of the Kashmiri community and Member of the House of Lords, Lord Nazir Ahmed said that the Kashmir Centre head Nazir Ahmad Shawl did not take any Kashmiri groups into confidence. Referring to the proposed participation of the National Conference leader, Omar Abdullah, Lord Nazir accused the National Conference of killing Kashmiris and said that the Kashmir Centre is appeasing the killers of the Kashmiri people.
Nazir Ahmad Qureshi, another Kashmiri activist and vice president of the World Kashmir Freedom Movement also claimed ignorance about the participation of Omar Abdullah adding that Nazir Shawl did not talk to him or any members of the kashmiri community in this regard or about the conference programme.
There is a general feeling that the proposed Kashmir Conference is part of a 'larger conspiracy' against Kashmiris and it is a step towards electioneering in Jammu and Kashmir, thus burying the Kashmir issue conveniently. There have been rumours since last year that the National Conference has reached some sort of understanding with Pakistani President General Musharraf and the conference is seen in that light.
One of the leaders of the All Party Kashmir Coordination Committee said that the Conference was a joint game plan of both India and Pakistan and aims to create harmony between pro-India and pro-Pakistan groups for the sake of coming elections in Jammu and Kashmir being held next year.
Another Kashmiri leader who is part of the boycott claimed that the Conference is offering platform to Omar Abdullah and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for their future electoral alliance in Kashmir.
As the controversy deepens, many people are staying away from the Conference. CPM leader Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami and Transport Minister Hakim Mohammad Yasin too have declined to attend the conference.
Executive Editor of a Jammu based newspaper is also not attending the conference.
There is a growing indication that Omar Abdullah might drop out last minute as he has reportedly been advised by the Indian embassy officials in London not to attend the conference for safety reasons. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
