Srinagar, Aug 17: The top Republican US Senator and presidential nominee in 2008 elections, John McCain, snubbed separatist leaders and opted not to meet them during his 2-day stay in the Valley.      
 McCain who arrived here on Tuesday called on Governor N N Vohra and the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. He ignored top separatist leaders including the chairmen of both Hurriyat factions Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF)   Muhammad Yasin Malik.
 Talking to Greater Kashmir, Hurriyat Conference (G) Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani said that McCain meeting Governer and CM was an open endorsement of India’s Kashmir policy.
 “America, Israel and India are part of anti- Muslim axis and their only goal is to crush the Muslims across the globe. They helped East Timor and South Sudan to attain freedom within a short time, but are indifferent to our cause as we are a Muslim majority state,” he said.
 Reacting cautiously, Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said, “There is nothing to worry about it”
  “We believe that America will show sincerity and help in resolution of Kashmir  issue in accordance to the wishes and sentiments of the people,” he said.
 Terming the trip of US Senator important he said that there was more in it “than what meets to eyes.”
 The JKLF Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik said there is nothing to read in it.
 “Every country has its lobby in US Senate and Congress and those lobbying for India are known as Indian caucus. He had come to meet his own men and it hardly matters for us,” Malik said.
  The Vice-Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (R) Javed Ahmad Mir said , “The US Assistant  Secretary of State  Robin Raphel had asked us to leave the gun in 1991. He had promised that US will facilitate  referendum in JK. But his promise proved a hoax.”
 “It is unfortunate that US is indifferent towards world’s oldest pending dispute.
 They are only bothered about their interests,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 17 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST