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'Hurriyat does not represent Kashmiri people'

Onkar Singh in New Delhi

Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir G M Shah Wednesday questioned the Hurriyat Conference claim that it represents the wishes and aspirations of the people of the state.

Talking to newsmen at the Press Club of India in his first press conference in 14 years, Shah said that the Hurriyat does not represent even the entire Muslim community of Jammu and Kashmir.

"The Hurriyat does not represent me. It also does not represent Farooq Abdullah, the Kashmiri pandits, the Ladakhi people and so on," he said.

When asked if the Hurriyat leaders should be allowed to go to Pakistan, Shah said there should be no difficulty in letting them go to Pakistan.

"Let them try. Hurriyat is a divided house. One group is pro-Pakistan, while the other is pro-azadi. They should first settle their differences and then talk about representing the people of the state," he said.

Shah said both India and Pakistan have taken bold steps to usher in peace in Jammu and Kashmir. "I congratulate the two countries on the behalf of my organisation Awami National Conference and the people of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

He, however, said Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee should work towards holding tripartite talks on Jammu and Kashmir involving India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir.

"If Nehru could talk to Liquat Ali, why can't Vajpayee talk to Musharaff?" he asked.

Shah's ANC is organising a two-day seminar on February 10 and 11 wherein over 400 delegates will discuss the problems of Jammu and Kashmir.

Besides the heads of political parties in Jammu and Kashmir (from both sides of the LoC), prominent personalities from all the regions of the state have also been invited.

Prominent among those likely to speak at the seminar are: Amanullah Khan of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front and Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan of the J&K Muslim Conference.

The Jammu and Kashmir peace process

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