Sparks at a meet on Kashmir

New Delhi, Mar 19 (PTI) Farooq Abdullah and Syed Ali
Shah Geelani on Saturday sparred in public here with the
former Chief Minister asking him to give up his "movement of
violence" in Jammu and Kashmir and telling him secession can
never be accepted.
Accusing the separatist leader of leading a violent
campaign in Jammu and Kashmir, he also ruled out the state
returning to pre-1947 position or the possibility of holding
a plebiscite in the state, a demand pressed by Geelani.
Participating in a discussion on "Kashmir, What Next"
at the "India Today" conclave, Abdullah counselled Geelani,
Chairman of hardline Hurriyat Conference, to take the cue from
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat who he said gave up a violent
struggle in the larger interest of peace.
Geelani, who was surprised at the presence of
Abdullah, who took the place of BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, who
failed to turn up, on the dais but heard him patiently, was
heard murmuring to the moderator why he was not told about the
Union Minister being part of the panel of speakers.
"Farooq sahab was not one of the speakers. My elders
have said, and I am sure your elders would have also said,
that if someone is sick, he can be treated but habits cannot
be treated," he remarked sarcastically.
In his speech, Geelani said the problem of Kashmir is
one of "broken promises" right from the beginning.
However, he was attacked by another panelist Arif Mohd
Khan, a former Union Minister, who said that Geelani had
contested Assembly elections in which one has to affirm faith
in the Indian constitution.
"But now look at the freedom in this country. He
(Geelani) has the freedom to trash the Constitution he once
took oath under," Khan said.
Indian Muslims, who migrated to Pakistan, were still
called 'mohajirs' (displaced people), he said adding in India
the present generation does not not even know that Hindus and
Sikhs from Pakistan who came here were once called
'sharanarthi' (refugees).
Abdullah, in his speech, said India was ready for
dialogue with separatists leaders but will never accept their
demand for secession. "Enough is enough," he said adding
bloodshed must end for the lasting peace in the subcontinent.
The Union Minister said that he would welcome any
solution to the Kashmir problem within the framework of Indian
Constitution. "I will not stick to even our autonomy demand if
that can bring peace to the valley," he said.
Geelani should not forget that Kashmir was not about
Muslims alone but also comprised Hindus, Buddhists and
Christians.
The Minister also questioned what Pakistan Geelani is
talking about where moderates like Salman Taseer and
Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian, were killed
and murderers welcomed with strong slogans in his favour.
Geelani said when he talked about Kashmir, he meant
the entire state and not just the valley.
Reiterating the demand for right to self-determination
and "freedom from India's forcible occupation of Kashmir",
Geelani said the government has to fulfil Jawaharlal Nehru's
promise for a plebiscite in 1947.
Geelani talked about the alleged excesses by the
security forces against the people of Kashmir and the stone
pelters who were killed.
Geelani, who did not face any hostile situation unlike
on an earlier similar occasion here last year, was, however,
booed at when he said that Kashmiri pandits were asked to
leave under a conspiracy.
"They (pandits) were told that you leave the valley as
you do every winter and come back after 3-4 months while we
take care of this movement," the Hurriyat leader said.
The 81-year-old leader was later whisked away through
back entrace once the session ended.