Srinagar, Nov 23: The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Tuesday reiterated that India should accept Kashmir as a dispute.
“We have never been averse to talks. But India has to shun rigidity and accept Kashmir as a dispute,” Geelani told the 2-member team of Canadian diplomats,  Julia G. Bentley, counselor and head of Political and Economic Program and Madhusri Das senior political and economic analyst, who called on him at his Hyderpora residence this evening.  
Geelani told the diplomats that more than 150 rounds of talks have been held since 1952 but these have not yielded any result. The veteran leader described appointment of interlocutors by New Delhi as a futile exercise. “It is an attempt to hoodwink the international community,” he added.
Seeking help of Canadian government to resolve the Kashmir issue, Geelani said it was moral responsibility of the world to help Kashmiris to get their birth right.
Geelani told the 2-member team that Hurriyat demands right to self- determination for all parts all parts of Jammu and Kashmir of pre-1947, which includes Gilgit and Baltistan. “We told them that Kashmir is not the territorial dispute between India and Pakistan. It is the question of future of 13 million people,” he said. “It was India which took the issue to the United Nations and six decades have passed but promises made with Kashmiris have not been fulfilled yet,” he added.
Geelani apprised them that peaceful movement of Kashmiris was dealt with brute force by the India and its troopers.
“After 20 years of armed struggle, Kashmiris resorted to peaceful means in wake of changing global scenario to attain their right to self determination, but India is no leaving no stone unturned to inflict the brutalities and tyrannies on Kashmiris to suppress the movement,” he added.

Consults constituents
The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Tuesday consulted the constituents of his conglomerate to devise the future strategy, a Hurriyat (G) spokesman said.
He urged the people to observe strike on November 24 and 27, and construct “resistance wall” at Eidgah after Friday prayers on November 26.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 23 Nov 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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