Srinagar, May 18: It was synthesis of different thoughts at a seminar organized by Hurriyat Conference(M) here on Tuesday to pay homage to late Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Farooq and late Abdul Gani Lone, with intellectuals and writers expressing diverse views over Kashmir issue.It was for the first time that Hurriyat (M) had exclusively invited intellectuals and writers to speak over Kashmir issue.
“We can’t stop others from harming us, but we can at least hold ourselves back from doing the damage. Mistrusts have done the damage on two counts. It has made us enemies of each other and more than that, it too had its own share of blood,” said Greater Kashmir columnist, Ajaz-ul-Haque.
“We never know how many lives we lost to this monster,” he said and added, “Talking about democracy does not always mean bashing religion. We can stay religious by being democratic.
Let religion not suffer any abuse. Whether through politics or through clergy. We must not necessarily attach godlessness to anything that is democratic. We try hard to make our movement popular, let’s try a bit to make it democratic.”
Haque said that Kashmiris were fighting and genuinely fighting for something which is their basic right. “Resistance is intelligence and not about violence.
I call self-determination as self-dependence, self-reliance and self-confidence. Self-reliance and self-confidence are the routes through which we can achieve self-determination,” he said.
“I aspire for the freedom which makes us tolerant. This inch of freedom can’t be granted to us by India, but by ourselves, he added.
Senior journalist, Muhammad Syed Malik, in his speech stressed about taking everybody on board to achieve the goal. “There should be no confusion between way and the goal. One faction of Hurriyat says confidence-
building measures is a way to reach the goal, but other factions doesn’t believe so. For mainstreams CBMs is a goal. One who talks about resolution is labeled. There should be no condition in talks,” he said.
Malik asked Hurriyat to interact with civil society frequently to get their feedback. Malik concluded his speech by quoting Churchill: “He who can read tomorrow is a leader.”
Political analyst and columnist, Dr Javeed Iqbal dwelt on multiple
shades of Kashmir conflict. “The long drawn out Kashmir conflict has multiple shades, which need to be appreciated, analyzed and addressed. Whatsoever the solution might be, it should take into consideration the tripartite nature of conflict, the method of engagement of the parties concerned may vary be acceptable and more important workable for the parties concerned widen rather than choke the existent links of the state,” he said.
Prof M Y Adil in his speech criticized pro-freedom leadership for lacking vision. “I want to ask my leaders have you understood the meaning of Azadi? You don’t have plan though you have material. We don’t want Azadi, but it is sacrifices of people which forces us to come on streets to raise slogans for Azadi,” he said. “Why did Kashmiris come out to vote in large numbers in 2008. Recently thousands of women thronged Congress mahila rally. We have double standards,” he added.
Prof Adil also criticized media and poets of Kashmir. “Mediamen have become blackmailers while poets wait for January 26 and August 15 functions. They are cunning,” he alleged.
He criticized Pandit organisation Panun Kashmir for their “dubious role.”
“They did character assassination of Kashmiris and taught us Chanikya politics.”
The Hurriyat (M) chairman in his speech said that they decided to listen to civil society. “There is a feeling that Hurriyat was not taking civil society into confidence. We agree we need inputs and ideas from them.”
“This is crucial phase of movement and we can’t ignore present and only think about future. Say 5-years back Hurriyat would not have talked about demonstrative issues. But today we have to move forward not only on political front but on economic front also,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 18 May 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 18 May 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 IST