Hurriyat tries to break peace deadlock

Hurriyat tries to break peace deadlock
Aasha Khosa

New Delhi. Feb 16: Wary at the deadlock on Prime minister A B Vajpayee's peace initiative on Kashmir, the moderate leaders of the Hurriyat Conference are trying to break the ice - this time by seeking to isolate the hardliner among them like Sayed Ali Shah Geelani of the Jamait-e-islami.

The idea of removing Geelani as one of the seven executive members of the All Parties hurriyat Conference (APHC) was mooted by Abdul Ghani Lone, who of late has turned into a main peace campaigner on behalf of the Hurriyat. Sources said although Lone had dared to speak about it in public, discussions on how to subvert Geelani's fire-spitting on Kashmir situation had caused embarrassment within the Hurriyat.

If the pro-peace leaders have their way, Geelani is sought to replaced by G M Butt, chief (Amir) of the jamait-e-islami Kashmir, who, many believe is the orignal proponent of peace moves in Kashmir. Soon after his election as Amir-e-ala of Jamait, the soft-spoken Butt had publically disowned secession and insurgents including the Hizbul-mujjahideen, an organisation which till that time had been calling itself as ``the armed wing'' (fauji-bazu) of the JEI.

The Hurriyat leaders hope that Geelani's removal would pave way for their proposed trip to Islamabad in search of peace. The central government's main objection to the Hurriyat leaders Pakistan trip had been the inclcusion of Geelani in the delegation. The Centre feared that Geelani's visit could fuel more anti-India and pro-jehad sentiments on Kashmir across Pakistan and it may prove counter-productive.

Most of the Hurriyat leaders are in need of travel documents, which would be issued by the Centre. The Hurriyat leaders say they would play a supportive role in the peace process by persuading the Pakistan-based insurgents to reciprocate on peace.

Sources close to the Jamait leader told the Indian Express that the octogenarian leader had himself been feeling pushed to the wall by the rest of the crowd and would not mind branching out. Geelani, they say was confident of the overhwelming support from militant ranks and he was even toying with the idea of floating his own `jehadi' front.

The differences between Geelani and rest of the Hurriyat leaders had been growing to the extend that he had not even been attending the APHC's meetings for quite some time. Although he claims to be pre-occupied with health and family problems, sources said he was angry at being labelled as a hawk by the centre. Geelani also suspected some of the Hurriyat leaders leaders in this game.

However, Geelani's removal is being held up due to non-committment from Pakistan's side. sources said. Geelani is decidedly the closest of the kashmiri leader to the Pakistan establishment. Although Pakistan too wants the hurriyat trip to Islamabad to materilise the Pakistan government are in a delimma over dumping Geelani in favour of peace, sources said.