The unification efforts between the two factions of All Parties Hurriyat Conference have been widely welcomed by various pro-freedom leaders, organisations and mainstream leaders in Indian held Kashmir.
However, most of them said the efforts should bloom into everlasting unity so that all the issues confronting the Kashmiris, including the resolution of long-standing Kashmir dispute, are solved amicably.
The High Court Bar Association, United Jihad Council, Dukhtaran-e-Millat, JKLF, Mahaz-e-Azadi, Al-Umar Mujahideen and Jamaat Islami in their separate statements have termed Hurriyat 'reunion' as a welcome development and hailed Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for "burying their differences."
HIGH COURT BAR: The High Court Bar Association President, Nazir Ahmad Ronga said, "Bar has been campaigning for it for the past two years," adding that People have started to feel sense of security and the Bar would extend its support to the unity move.
UNITED JIHAD COUNCIL: Syed Salahuddin, Chairman of United Jihad Council has congratulated Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Syed Ali Geelani for organising such an important meet.
"Besides sending a positive signal across the state, the initiative has in fact boosted the moral of freedom loving people of Jammu and Kashmir who have offered incomparable sacrifices to achieve their legitimate right, the right to self-determination," the UJC chief said while talking to Greater Kashmir.
Commenting on the fresh development that emerged after Saturday's meeting between the leaders of segregated factions of Hurriyat, the UJC chairman said the leaders have actually come up with a comprehensive agenda to devise a methodology to further strengthen the struggle for self-determination and to bring all the freedom loving forces under one umbrella.
"This will enable the amalgam to fulfil its responsibilities vis-à-vis Kashmiris' principled stance," he added. "UJC extends its unflinching support to Hurriyat leaders in their struggle to forge a broad political platform aimed at pursuing Kashmiris' basic and principled right, the right to self-determination," he maintained.
To achieve this cherished goal, he said that "whatever strategy the Hurriyat leadership mutually agrees to, Jihadi leadership and the valiant freedom fighters will lend their full support besides propping them up in their endeavours to pursue the ultimate goal."
However, he maintained that it was possible only if the pro-freedom political forces, particularly the leadership acts in unison and gets itself engaged in co-ordinated efforts to take the movement to its logical end.
He said, "So far about half a million Kashmiris have laid down their precious lives for their just cause, thousands of innocent Kashmiri women were molested, hundreds of thousands of houses and residential areas were destroyed across state."
"In view of the indomitable role of the people of Jammu and Kashmir it is the sole responsibility of the leadership to stand united on the occasion when evil forces are hell bent on changing the demographic character of the state," he stated.
Referring to acquisition of 800 kanals land by Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), he said, "It is a matter of great concern that Kashmiri people are being deprived of their fertile lands and orchards." He pointed out that lush green forest land is being used for rehabilitation purposes to settle non-state subjects in the state, which is not only contrary to the state law but also detrimental for the ecosystem of the region. Terming it as conspiracy against Kashmiris, the Hizb sumpremo said a united and well-integrated political forum can play a prudent role in thwarting such conspiracies.
Meanwhile, talking to this scribe, the deputy chief of United Jihad Council, Muhammad Usman Kotwal, appreciated the unification move and said the Hurriyat leaders' recent initiative will generate new hope and optimism in the general masses in Kashmir.
Terming unity as paramount, he said that unanimity and concurrence within the leadership is imperative to achieve the collective cause. "Militant leadership is ready to walk shoulder to shoulder with the Hurriyat to fight Indian occupation till their last breath," Salahuddin said.
He urged the Hurriyat leaders to remain cautious. "Indian agencies will work overtime against the Hurriyat unity and will again try to split the leadership," he said, adding, "Unity between the two Hurriyats is the best way to heal the wounds of the Kashmiri people. And above all, it will give us a confidence to take our struggle to its logical conclusion".
DUKHTARAN-E-MILLAT: The chairperson of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Syeda Aasiya Andrabi, who is seen as an interlocutor in bringing the divided Hurriyat factions on the table, said "unification is need of the time."
"India has hatched a conspiracy to illegally occupy the prime land in Kashmir to settle its troops and agents. Kashmiris have given enough sacrifices and they can't lonely fight the issues like transfer of land to the Shrine Board. It is high time that the pro-freedom leaders united to lead the people in their struggle." Andrabi said, adding the two leaders should forge an issue-based unity.
JKLF: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front general secretary, GR Eiddi, sounded optimistic about the Hurriyat unification. "Our party has been always for unification of the Hurriyat factions. But even if they unite on certain issues, the grudge will remain there until they sort out the problems which led to its division," Eiddi said.
MAHAZ-E-AZADI: Welcoming the efforts, the patron of Mahaz-e-Azadi, Muhammad Azam Inqallabi maintained, "The bottom-line of the unification must be the right to self-determination and to fight jointly against the issues like land transfer."
AL-UMAR MUJAHIDEEN: A spokesman of Al-Umar Mujahideen Khalid Javid in a tele-statement to KNS said the meeting between the two Hurriyat leaders is a step towards right direction. "Such steps will give us strength to fight the Indian forces in Kashmir. We congratulate the heads of both Hurriyats for taking such an important step and that too at a crucial point," he added.
JAMAAT-E-ISLAMI: Jamaat-e-Islami, too, welcomed the Hurriyat move saying the two factions of Hurriyat would soon unite.
"We were so happy to see the two leaders at one place, shaking hands after a long time. We feel this is a major step to take the Kashmir movement to its conclusion," said Ameer-e-Jamaat Sheikh Muhammad Hassan.
OTHER ORGANISATIONS: Other organisations like, Shia Federation and Save Srinagar Front, too have welcomed the development saying they will support the Hurriyat programs.
DR GHULAM NABI FAI: The Executive Director of Kashmiri Centre, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai in a statement in Washington also welcomed the move. He said that it has brought cheers to the Kashmiris in the occupied territory and through out world as well, adding both the leaders have shown magnanimity and wisdom by coming together under a broad-based common platform and agreed to jointly continue the freedom struggle.
MAINSTREAM LEADERS: Meanwhile, the mainstream leaders expressed mixed reactions over the unification efforts. "It has been our party's stand to start dialogue with Hurriyat factions. We are happy that efforts are on to unite the divided factions. It will definitely pave way for initiation of the dialogue process," said chairman of Peoples Democratic Front, Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen.
The leader of opposition, Abdur Rahim Rather, said Hurriyat unity will remove ambiguity among separatists over the Kashmir issue. "Though it is to be seen that will the Hurriyat unity help in resolution of the Kashmir issue or not, it will at least facilitate consensus among the separatists over the issue," Rather said.
The general secretary of PDP, Nizamuddin Bhat said "we can't ignore the role of Hurriyat Conference in resolution of Kashmir issue. But if its factions are united due to expediency, it won't auger well in the long run." Bhat said.
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