Bhat vouches for Hurriyat unity but Geelani takes a break

The Hurriyat Conference today downplayed the growing differences within the conglomerate, saying there was no threat to unity among its cons...

The Hurriyat Conference today downplayed the growing differences within the conglomerate, saying there was no threat to unity among its constituents even as Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani did not attend the meeting citing sickness.

‘‘We are one and inshallah (God willing) will remain one,’’ Hurriyat Conference chairman Abdul Gani Bhat said after the informal executive meeting.

Bhat said ‘‘nothing important’’ had been discussed as most Hurriyat executive members were either away or in jail.

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The meeting is seen as an attempt to defuse the war of words between Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Geelani over participation in a meeting at Sharjah by the former along with senior Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone.

While Geelani had accused Farooq and Lone of ‘‘keeping him in the dark’’ about the meeting, Mirwaiz had defended the meeting and said that ‘‘our elders should have talked to us before publicly criticising the meeting’’.

For Kolkata, the IMD has forecast mostly cloudy skies with light to moderate rain or thundershowers on most days through Panchami.

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