Adil Lateef
SRINAGAR, Nov 11: Moderate separatist leader and former Hurriyat Conference chairman, Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, today called on all the parties – both mainstream and separatist – of Jammu and Kashmir to come together and draft a resolution in order to impress upon India and Pakistan to resume stalled dialogue process ‘in the interests of peace and stability.
“Everyone says that they love Kashmiris. If you ask a National Conference brother whether he likes people of Kashmir, he will say yes. Same is with Congress, Jamaat-e-Islami or BJP. Then I want to convey another message today, Bhat, a strong proponent of dialogue, said during a function organized by his party, Muslim Conference, on the occasion of his auto-biography’s release. He said, “I would want the leaders of all the recognized parties from Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh to break walls – the walls of their organizations or interests – and sit together, join heads and consider a draft resolution to be conjointly passed by them, impressing on the leadership of India and Pakistan collectively that the stalled dialogue process is resumed forthwith in the interests of peace, stability and the throbbing hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
He said he will not hesitate in approaching mainstream leaders of the State and would definitely go before them “as they are our own”. “If I can go and meet Prime Minister of India and Pakistan, why not mainstream parties’ leaders? They are our own,” he said and added that he can “go to any extent” for this. Prof Bhat said that even he has to write letter to Indian Prime Minister he will do so. “I want talks to happen and happen forthwith and unconditional,” he added.
With regard to his book – Beyond Me – he said it is till 1986-87. “It has two parts – one where I have written about me but there is politics, history and religion as well. The second book will deal with Kashmir politics. In this book, I have accepted my mistakes and have made honest confessions that I could not do what was doable,” the moderate separatist added.
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