By: Umer Maqbool
Srinagar: Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Wednesday called for devising a strategy for channelizing the pro-freedom sentiment into the resolution of Kashmir dispute.
“There is no need to feel disheartened as pro-freedom sentiment is alive for past 64 years and the situation of past few years proved it. But we need to introspect for rectifying the mistakes of the past to move forward,” he said, addressing a seminar “Kashmir Problem-A Way Forward,” here organized by Hurriyat (M) as part of ‘Martyrdom Week’ to commemorate the anniversaries of slain separatist leaders Mirwaiz Moulana Muhammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone.
Mirwaiz said that civil society should take initiative for bringing leaders, intellectuals and writers together for formulating the strategy.
“If we will initiate the move, others wouldn’t come as they feel that their stature would diminish,” he said, adding that contribution of civil society, media and lawyers cannot be forgotten.” They did their bit, but sometimes fingers are pointed also on them like on leaders,” he added.
Mirwaiz said it is undeniable reality that there was no homogeneity of ideas in Jammu and Kashmir.
“There are different views in Ladakh, Northern Areas, Pakistan Administered Kashmir, Valley and Jammu excluding Chenab Valley. We need to decide whether we need to have an all inclusive approach or concentrate on the resistance areas only,” he said.
The pro-freedom leader said that there is a negative image of Kashmir in the mainstream India.
“We have failed to motivate the public opinion of India in our favour. The Indians view Kashmir through Pakistani prism,” he said.
Mirwaiz said involvement of more than two parties and interests of different stakeholders has made Kashmir issue more complicated and complex.
“We cannot neglect China on Kashmir, though we know it has its own interests in raking up the issue,” he said.
Mirwaiz added that there was no harm in discussing good options floated by different quarters.
“We have seen Dixon Plan, Kathwari Plan, Musharraf’s four point formula or Achievable Nationhood and it was not bad to discuss them,” he said, adding that Hurriyat adopted approach of engaging India, Pakistan separately as it was only alternative path available then.
Speaking on the occasion, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik said Kashmiris should project themselves as oppressed to gain sympathy for their cause.
“It is for us to decide whether we would portray our cause through human perspective or present ourselves as mightiest power wanting to conquer the world,” he said.
Malik said intellectuals and civil society should share creative ideas with the leadership personally for shaping strategy of the movement.
“The roadmaps should not be put in public domain as it can lead to confusion among the masses,” he said.
Malik paid glowing tributes to Mirwaiz Moulana Muhammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone and hailed their contribution in the struggle.
Speaking on the occasion, Editor Greater Kashmir Magazine and columnist Mehmmod-Ur-Rashid said that separatist leadership needs to look backward in order to move forward.
“They should see what went wrong in the past so that mistakes can be rectified,” he said, adding that they must realize the international situation that surrounds Kashmir.
“Let leadership be responsible to people and become an agency of change rather than subject of change,” he said, adding that Hurriyat (M) follows the ideas or trends, rather than producing the original ones.
Dr Abdul Ahad and Kumar Wanchoo also spoke on the occasion. Others present on the occasion included Aga Syed Hassan, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam, Nayeem Ahmed Khan and Mukthar Ahmed Waza.
The seminar was moderated by senior Hurriyat leader Prof Abdul Gani Bhat.
Srinagar: Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Wednesday called for devising a strategy for channelizing the pro-freedom sentiment into the resolution of Kashmir dispute.
“There is no need to feel disheartened as pro-freedom sentiment is alive for past 64 years and the situation of past few years proved it. But we need to introspect for rectifying the mistakes of the past to move forward,” he said, addressing a seminar “Kashmir Problem-A Way Forward,” here organized by Hurriyat (M) as part of ‘Martyrdom Week’ to commemorate the anniversaries of slain separatist leaders Mirwaiz Moulana Muhammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone.
Mirwaiz said that civil society should take initiative for bringing leaders, intellectuals and writers together for formulating the strategy.
“If we will initiate the move, others wouldn’t come as they feel that their stature would diminish,” he said, adding that contribution of civil society, media and lawyers cannot be forgotten.” They did their bit, but sometimes fingers are pointed also on them like on leaders,” he added.
Mirwaiz said it is undeniable reality that there was no homogeneity of ideas in Jammu and Kashmir.
“There are different views in Ladakh, Northern Areas, Pakistan Administered Kashmir, Valley and Jammu excluding Chenab Valley. We need to decide whether we need to have an all inclusive approach or concentrate on the resistance areas only,” he said.
The pro-freedom leader said that there is a negative image of Kashmir in the mainstream India.
“We have failed to motivate the public opinion of India in our favour. The Indians view Kashmir through Pakistani prism,” he said.
Mirwaiz said involvement of more than two parties and interests of different stakeholders has made Kashmir issue more complicated and complex.
“We cannot neglect China on Kashmir, though we know it has its own interests in raking up the issue,” he said.
Mirwaiz added that there was no harm in discussing good options floated by different quarters.
“We have seen Dixon Plan, Kathwari Plan, Musharraf’s four point formula or Achievable Nationhood and it was not bad to discuss them,” he said, adding that Hurriyat adopted approach of engaging India, Pakistan separately as it was only alternative path available then.
Speaking on the occasion, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik said Kashmiris should project themselves as oppressed to gain sympathy for their cause.
“It is for us to decide whether we would portray our cause through human perspective or present ourselves as mightiest power wanting to conquer the world,” he said.
Malik said intellectuals and civil society should share creative ideas with the leadership personally for shaping strategy of the movement.
“The roadmaps should not be put in public domain as it can lead to confusion among the masses,” he said.
Malik paid glowing tributes to Mirwaiz Moulana Muhammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone and hailed their contribution in the struggle.
Speaking on the occasion, Editor Greater Kashmir Magazine and columnist Mehmmod-Ur-Rashid said that separatist leadership needs to look backward in order to move forward.
“They should see what went wrong in the past so that mistakes can be rectified,” he said, adding that they must realize the international situation that surrounds Kashmir.
“Let leadership be responsible to people and become an agency of change rather than subject of change,” he said, adding that Hurriyat (M) follows the ideas or trends, rather than producing the original ones.
Dr Abdul Ahad and Kumar Wanchoo also spoke on the occasion. Others present on the occasion included Aga Syed Hassan, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam, Nayeem Ahmed Khan and Mukthar Ahmed Waza.
The seminar was moderated by senior Hurriyat leader Prof Abdul Gani Bhat.
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