Mirwaiz criticises IWT, Shah walks out
Srinagar, July 10:
The difference in the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference today deepened further after its chairman Mirwaiz Omar Farooq refused restructuring of the separatist amalgam, a long pending demand of its various constituents.
The senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah today walked out of the joint meeting of the Hurriyat Conference’s General and Executive Council held at its Rajbagh headquarters today over the restructuring issue.
The meeting had a heated argument between the supporters of restructuring of Hurriyat Conference and others. Those who are demanding restructuring of the separatist amalgam are Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Zaffar Akbar Bhat, Yasmeen Raja and Mohammad Yousuf Naqash.
Senior separatist leader Nayeem Khan told Excelsior that status quo is not acceptable to them. He said that the amalgam needs restructuring as the present system has failed to deliver and will not succeed in future as well. He said restructuring of the Hurriyat is imperative.
However, while addressing a press conference soon after the meeting Mirwaiz Omar ruled out restructuring of the Hurriyat Conference. He said majority of the constituents of the amalgam supported the present system of general and executive councils. “Some of the constituents were in favour of Shoura type system. However, majority didn’t support it”, he added.
Mirwaiz said that some of the constituents of the amalgam put forth their viewpoints over restructuring of Hurriyat Conference. “Detailed deliberations were held about these suggestions. But we have to respect majority view. It is a majority opinion in executive and general council that 1993 Hurriyat constitution should be maintained and existing system of executive and general council will remain,” he added.
He, however, said that district level committees of the amalgam will be formed and a separate committee will look into the economic affairs of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. “The objective of the formation of the district level committees is that the policies and programmes of the amalgam would reach to people more effectively”, he added.
Mirwaiz said another committee that will comprise members from civil society, traders, educationists, employees and people from varied fields will look after economic interests of the State. He said that people of the State have no say over their own natural resources like water and electricity. “Our natural resources are being looted by NHPC. We have no right over water or electricity. The NHPC with the support of State Government has controlled our water resources. The water treaties are against the interests of the State. State and centre are hand in glove over looting of the natural resources of the,” he alleged.
The separatists for the first time challenged the Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan by saying that it is against the interests of Jammu and Kashmir State. Mirwaiz said that the State has no benefit from the treaty and the State’s resources are being drained out.
Mirwaiz said that Hurriyat will not remain silent and will generate a mass campaign against looting of natural resources of the State. “We will not remain silent over this series issue. Our resources have been controlled by people in Delhi and we have no right over them,” he said.
Referring to notices served to some Hurriyat leaders on charges of violating the Hurriyat constitution, Mirwaiz said that Prof Abdul Gani Bhat and Nayeem Ahmad Khan have responded to the notices while Mohammad Azam inqualabi has disassociated himself from the Hurriyat.
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