Hurriyat retorts: We don146;t need Andrabi approval

A day after Dukhtaran-e-Millat chairperson Asiya Andrabi accused Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq of entering into a sellout on Kashmir...

A day after Dukhtaran-e-Millat chairperson Asiya Andrabi accused Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq of entering into a sellout on Kashmir, the Hurriyat doves shot back today, saying that the Mirwaiz and others in his flock were internationally acclaimed Kashmiri leaders and were not, as Andrabi had alleged, following any external party8217;s agenda on the Kashmir issue.

Andrabi on Monday had asked that the Mirwaiz refrain from implementing what she called the 8216;8216;road map of others8217;8217; on Kashmir, adding: 8216;8216;After 1947, the governments of India, Pakistan and a section of separatist leaders have agreed under the leadership of the United States on a sell-out on Kashmir.8217;8217;

Reacting to her statement, a spokesman for the Hurriyat moderates said that the Mirwaiz was not in need of a certificate from Andrabi to prove he is the leader of the Kashmiris. 8216;8216;He also does not need any approval from New Delhi,8217;8217; the spokesman said. 8216;8216;There are no two opinions about the Mirwaiz being a Kashmiri leader; he is an internationally acclaimed leader as well. The international community, including Pakistan and the Organisation of Islamic Conference, have also affirmed it.8217;8217;

Rejecting Andrabi8217;s allegations over 8216;8216;the roadmap of others8217;8217;, the spokesman said, 8216;8216;If the struggle for giving Kashmiris the right to govern themselves, for seeking the demilitarisation of Kashmir and for rejecting any effort to resolve the Kashmir issue without involving Pakistan means implementing the roadmap of others, then we urge Ms Andrabi to come forward with any proposal for resolving the Kashmir issue that is acceptable to all three parties.8217;8217;

The Hurriyat spokesman said the Mirwaiz was seeking a just solution to the Kashmir issue by involving Kashmiris in the process. 8216;8216;The Hurriyat represents the aspirations of Kashmiris and is fighting for their birth right,8217;8217; he said, while criticising Andrabi for raising 8216;8216;emotional slogans8217;8217;. Unlike her, he said, 8216;8216;we are not in favour of ignoring the ground realities and we take decisions after understanding the concrete facts before us.8217;8217;