On eve of crucial meeting, Lone offers to drop out of team to Pak

The Peoples Conference leader was addressing the working committee session of the party. He said he had not reacted to the allegations levelled against him after his Pakistan visit, as it would have harmed the interests of the movement. He, however, pledged, ‘‘at an appropriate time I will go public with all the facts.’’Certain elements are hell-bent on defaming him, he added. ‘‘They have even contested my religious beliefs and launched a pro-Lone offers to drop outpaganda against me,’’ he averred. Calling them ‘‘self-styled elements’’ he said ‘‘on both sides of the LoC they are harping the tune that ‘Islam is in danger’ merely to curb me and the party.’’ In an obvious criticism of the foreign militants, the Hurriyat executive said those who are threatening to unfurl their flag on the Red Fort or White House should not make Kashmir as an excuse for it. ‘‘By executing their plans they were dealing a blow to their very own foundations,’’ he added.

He said there should be freedom of expression and efforts should be made to create a conducive environment for openness. He warned if that was not done, the movement shall willy-nilly lunge into the abyss of failure. Lone said Indian Home minister L.K. Advani had offered to hold talks with the Hurriyat Conference in May last year. But since then nobody has come forward. Some people are shouting slogans that ‘‘no sellout will be allowed’’. Their attitude, he added, is highly regrettable.

Lone’s statement has, in fact, raised the curtains and provided the much needed peep to the observers to surmise what lies ahead in tomorrow’s important meeting. All indications point to the fact that it’s going to be a stormy session.