Srinagar, Aug 5: Asking government to provide political space to separatists, various mainstream parities on Thursday hailed the efforts of Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, to restore peace in the Valley.
The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) welcomed the move to seek

Geelani’s intervention to restore peace in the Valley. The PDP also demanded immediate release of all political detainees and hundreds of youth arrested during the ongoing protests.
 The PDP president Mehbooba Mufti hoped that release of various leaders and Geelani’s appeal for peace would be utilized as an opportunity for the large and bolder initiatives.
 Mehbooba said that PDP has been stressing on the involvement of all political parties and leaders to find the solution of the problems confronting the state and has been constantly cautioning against compartmentalization of political parties.
 “It is high time that the political influence of other leaders like Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has been under house arrest, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Nayeem Khan and other leaders is utilized and all of them are provided enough space to put forth their point of view,” she said.
 Mehbooba alleged that state government had imprisoned a large number of political leaders and young boys only to “cover up its failures.”
 “The PDP has been reiterating that political initiatives are the need of the hour. It is high time for the Government of India to wake up and resolve the Kashmir problem once for all,” she said.
 She said the PDP patron, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, had told New Delhi not to misconstrue high voter turn out in 2008. “It was unfortunate that New Delhi did not pay any heed to Mufti sahib’s advice,” she said.
 Mehbooba demanded that government should release the arrested youth forthwith to create conducive atmosphere for political process.
 “All citizens and political parties have to contribute the exercise and there should be no discrimination or division among them,” she maintained.
 The senior Cabinet Minister and Congress leader, Taj Mohi-ud-Din said the Government has no problem to give political space to the pro-freedom leaders. “However, they have to assure the Government that their activities will be peaceful,” he said.
 The Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ali Muhammad Sagar hailed Geelani’s endeavour to restore peace in the Valley. “It is good that he (Geelani) has appealed people not to pelt stones or target public property. He is doing it for people and Government appreciates the gesture,” Sagar said.
 On providing political space to separatist leaders, Sagar said it was for the Government to decide. “I have no information about the assurance of political space to Geelani. It is for the Government to decide on the issue after weighing all pros and cons,” he said.
 The CPI (M) general secretary MY Tarigami said the Government must release all the separatist leaders and allow them to diffuse the situation. “There have been continuous killings in Kashmir for past over a month. We have lost over 40 youth. Enough is enough now. Government should release all the leaders and allow them to use their influence to control the anger among the people over the killings,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 5 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 5 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST