Separatists reject Deoband's Kashmir stand

Kashmiri separatists on Monday rejected the suggestion made by the Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind, the powerful body of Deobandi clerics, at its Kashmir conference at Deoband that 'the issue should be resolved within the parameters of the Constitution of India.'

The conference held at Deoband on Sunday had expressed concern over the human rights violations in Kashmir and sought the repeal of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

The conference, however, described Kashmir as 'integral part of India' and sought its resolution within the ambit of the Constitution.

Reacting to the upshot of the conference, the hard-line separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani thanked 'the clerics for showing their concern over the human rights violations.'

However, Geelani regretted that 'the conference had ignored the root cause of the problem which had raised questions over the conference itself.'

The ulema, Geelani said 'should have taken into consideration the pledges made by Indian leadership to allow the people of Kashmir decide their future'. "This has even been acknowledged by the international community," he added.

The moderate All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq also thanked the ulemas for their concern on the human rights violations and their demand for revocation of AFSPA.

"We thank them for their concern. But we don't agree with the suggestion that Kashmir issue be resolved within the frame work of the Indian Constitution," Mirwaiz told rediff.com.

"There are three parties to the dispute, India, Pakistan and Kashmiris. All the three parties have to be involved to find a solution to the problem," Mirwaiz said.

"The issue which has been a subject of several United Nations resolutions cannot be resolved within the Indian Constitution," Mirwaiz added.

"I salute the ulema for having expressed concern and raising their voice against excesses and atrocities committed on freedom loving people of Kashmir. I also appeal to the Indian Muslims not to get involved about the political part of the Kashmir problem as we fully understand their limitations," pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front front chairman Yasin Malik said.