Hurriyat doves open doors for separatists to return

Shah was expelled from the Hurriyat a few years ago for defying the party’s decision not to meet Frank Wisner, then US Ambassador to India. Hurriyat sources reveal if Shah attends next week’s meet, there is every possibility that he may be given a berth in the Hurriyat executive council. The Hurriyat had been facing pressure from general council constituents for expanding the seven-member executive.

Doves like Hurriyat founding chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq, his deputies in his parent organisation, Awami Action Committee, Shahidul Islam and Ghulam Hassan Bhat, besides veteran Fazal Haq Qureshi, over the last two weeks, have met every separatist outfit to woo them on a single but potent platform.

‘‘We were thinking of organising that meet on Saturday, but because Mirwaiz Umar’s sister is getting married in a few days’ time, it will now be held next week,’’ said a Hurriyat leader. Two of the four leaders, sources say, have also met Syed Ali Shah Geelani and his supporters, asking them to reconsider their decision of floating a parallel forum ‘‘in the broader interest of the resistance movement’’. ‘‘They have conveyed to the Geelani-led faction that a patch-up was in the interests of the movement,’’ said a source.

Besides Geelani, the Hurriyat doves met JKLF supremo Yaseen Malik, leaders of People’s League, Jamat-e-Islami chief Nazir Ahmad Kashani and his deputy Ashraf Sahria, for a rapprochement with the Geelani faction. The JKLF, the People’s League and Jamat have deliberately distanced themselves from the rumblings.

The Hurriyat moderates are expected to shortly issue letters, ‘‘pleading’’ with all to come under one umbrella ‘‘so as to make the resistance movement more effective’’.