Srinagar, August 07: The Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Saturday rejected the dialogue offer by the government, saying that the group will not enter into any talks with the Centre unless the Kashmir is recognised as dispute and withdraws army from the state.
However, he said, “If this is done, then a dialogue could be held to discuss the technicalities of implementing UN resolutions”.
Geelani called the talks offer as conspiracy to discredit him.
“Chidambaram should bear in mind that my only objective behind appealing our angry youth protesting against the unabated killings on streets, was to prevent further loss of life,” said Geelani.
Meanwhile, Geelani appealed to not to indulge in violence in the valley. He further said that the rapidly spreading violence in the valley, which is giving an opportunity to others to project the ‘movement’ in bad light in international fora.
Geelani asserted that there has been no shift in his stance on the Kashmir issue and claimed that the talks offer
was an attempt to “create confusion” among the people.
Chairman of moderate Hurriyat faction Mirwaiz Umer Farooq refused to comment on the talks offer.
“He will not talk on the subject,” was the reply of his aide to a query.
Reaching out to separatists, including Geelani, Home Minister Chidambaram had yesterday asked them to participate in a dialogue which the Centre intends to resume.
“I will resume the political process. I have impressed upon all interlocutors that I am willing to resume the quiet dialogue. We have to find courage that allows to hold dialogue. We have to get on,” the Minister said in the Rajya Sabha and “sincerely hoped” that the separatist leaders, including Geelani, would come forward for talks.
—Agencies