Srinagar, Jan 2: Day after Delhi called Kashmir an integral part of India, separatist as well as mainstream parties in J&K termed it as “unrealistic and unfortunate” statement.
Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani termed the statement as unrealistic. “Whosoever has said it, such remarks are unrealistic and against the historical background and facts. Even Alistair Lamb in his famous book on Kashmir has revealed that there is no instrument of accession between Mahraja Hari Singh and Delhi. If for the sake of argument we accept that any document of accession had been signed that too was conditional and provisional.”
 “Prime Minister of India, late Jawahar Lal Nehru had given a commitment to the people of Kashmir that they would be given a chance to decide their future through a plebiscite. India itself took the issue to UN where 18 resolutions have been passed which declare that Kashmir is disputed,” he said.
 Geelani said that there was no legitimacy for India to stay in Kashmir. “It is on the basis of power that India is occupying Kashmir. People of Jammu and Kashmir have never accepted India’s occupation and since 1947, six lakh people have been martyred,” he added.
 Commenting on the issue, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik, said, “After the accession it was at Lal Chowk where first Indian Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru took a pledge to let Kashmiris decide their future through a democratic referendum.”
 “Even in his speech in Congress Parliamentary Committee Nehru had said that Kashmiris were not a selling commodity. He had said ‘If they (Kashmiris) want Independent Kashmir in referendum, it may give pain to me, but I’ll accept it as democratic decision’,” he said.
 Malik urged New Delhi and Islamabad to avoid issuing hostile statements. “War and hostility give miseries to people. Time has come when Kashmir issue should be resolved. Both parts of Kashmir including Northern Areas are disputed,” he added.
 Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said, “The statement is not based on facts and Hurriyat rejects it. International community recognizes Kashmir as a dispute. Even India’s ally Russia accepts it as dispute.”
 “When Indian leadership talks with US and other countries they say they would solve the issue bilaterally. But when pressure lessens, they again start saying Kashmir is integral part of India,” he said.
 Mirwaiz asserted that there can’t be any solution of Kashmir dispute within the framework of the Indian constitution. “Whenever any dialogue has to be held it is to be for dispute resolution,” he added.
 Peoples Democratic Party president, Mehbooba Mufti, said the Government of India had always divergent stances on Kashmir. “I wont give much weightage to this statement. It should not have any impact on the dialogue, as this is a traditional stand of both India and Pakistan. India calls Kashmir as integral part while Pakistan calls it a juggler vein.”
 “No political party in India can say Kashmir is disputed,” she said and added “We have hawkish elements everywhere who don’t want a solution. But resolving Kashmir isn’t a luxury but a necessity for both India and Pakistan.”
 Mehbooba said that Vajpayee-led NDA government tried to address Kashmir as a dispute. “Vajpayee talked to separatists as well as Pakistan and he had reached to some sort of agreement with General Musharraf. But that time also it (the move) failed,” she added.
 Senior National Conference leader and Member Parliament, Mehboob Beg, termed the statement as unfortunate and uncalled for. “These are irrational statements. In the last 20-years, a nexus has developed in India cutting across the social barriers who don’t want to see Kashmir normal.”
 “When Prime Minister recently said he desired to engage all sections of political opinion in Jammu and Kashmir to find practical, pragmatic solutions, it appeared he is sincere. But down the line it seems Indian bureaucracy doesn’t want to solve Kashmir dispute,” he said.
 Beg who represents Islamabad-Pulwama constituency in Parliament said there was trust deficit between New Delhi and Kashmiris. “There is a need for unconditional dialogue with conviction.”

Lastupdate on : Sat, 2 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 2 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 3 Jan 2010 00:00:00 IST