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Journalism of Courage
Hurriyat Conference chief Abdul Gani Bhat today said that a couple of his leaders were interested in contesting the forthcoming elections
adding, in the same breath, that the Hurriyat would not participate in polls as this was a 8216;8216;betrayal8217;8217; of the Kashmir cause.
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Dove camp gets bigger as Hizb expels 2 more
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Insiders claim the number of pro-Dar field commanders might rise upto 20. In fact, at least one PoK-based commander too has reportedly voiced his dissent on the issue of Dar8217;s expulsion in the groups8217; command council meeting held in Muzzafarabad.  You’ve Read Your Free Stories For Now
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An insider said a split in the Hizbul ranks could be possible only if there was a division in the Pak-based leadership that controls the outfit8217;s activities, policies and resources. 8216;8216;In the early 8217;90s, there was a split in Hizbul after a group of commanders wanted the leadership to snap ties with its political arm, the Jamat-e-Islami,8217;8217; he said. 8216;8216;The rebel faction had support from within the Pak establishment and so managed to resurface as Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen. In fact, they had to take harder positions than the Hizbul8217;s stated line to ensure support from the hawks within the ISI and Pakistan8217;s Kashmir cell8217;8217;.8212; Muzamil Jaleel |
8216;8216;Two or three people are ready to contest elections,8217;8217; he said at a book-release function today. 8216;8216;This is a betrayal8230;participation in elections is not fair to the blood and honour we have given for our freedom struggle.8217;8217;
Without identifying the 8216;8216;two or three8217;8217; leaders,
Bhat said that if anyone wanted to participate in elections, he should declare himself an Indian, not do it in the name of the 8216;8216;Kashmir struggle.8217;8217;
8216;8216;How can I tell a mother, who has lost her three sons for the cause of freedom that I am now going to contest elections? She will ask me why we did not tell her before the killing of her three sons. If we were for elections we should have declared it earlier,8217;8217; said Bhat.
He said that New Delhi had always resorted to 8216;8216;shortcuts and holding of elections was part of this process.8217;8217;
Bhat said when CHief Minister Farooq Abdullah chose to pass a resolution for the restoration of autonomy, the Government of India chose to dismiss it.
8216;8216;What happened when late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah resented against Indian hegemony? He was arrested and jailed. What is the validity of the Assembly? Why should we contest elections?8217;8217;
Bhat denied reports about the emergence of a third political front in the Valley. Such reports gained currency after People8217;s League representative in the Hurriyat executive council, Khaleel Ahmad Kahleel, attended the recent Track II Chandigrah conference.
Sources said efforts are on to forge an alliance of moderate separatist groups and some maintream parties as an alternative to the Hurriyat.
8216;8216;None of us can leave Hurriyat. How can they do it? What and which third front? It is betrayal,8217;8217; he said.
Bhat has hardened his stand after the recent Dubai meeting attended by two top Hurriyat executives Abdul Gani Lone and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
The meeting, attended by the head of Pakistan8217;s Kashmir Council, PoK leader Sardar Qayoom Khan, called for an end to jehad. Bhat was said to have been kept in the dark about this meeting.
