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Invite Hurriyat for talks: Jethmalani urges Centre

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

Kashmir Committee chairman Ram Jethmalani on Thursday reiterated his call for postponement of the assembly election in Jammu & Kashmir, saying that 'going ahead with the poll may be technically correct, but it is politically idiotic'.

He also urged the Indian government to invite the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference leaders for talks. "The ball is in our court. If wisdom prevails, Hurriyat leaders will be invited to Delhi for talks. If they are not invited, we will be missing a chance forever [to resolve Kashmir problem]," he said.

Jethmalani recalled that he held discussions with various pro-militant groups in Kashmir in the last few days. "When talks can be held with militant groups such as Mizos, Bodos and ULFA, why not with Hurriyat?"

He also observed that India's stand that Kashmir was its integral part was good 'only up to a point'.

"So long as Pakistan is not a secular democracy where non-Muslim minorities are not treated equally and with dignity, we should not part with even one inch of land. If, by any miracle, Pakistan becomes a secular democracy, 90 per cent of Kashmir problem would cease to exist," he said.

Jethmalani said postponement of the election would enable greater participation by various political groups.

Referring to the issue of notification for the first phase of poll, he said the Election Commission had the authority to reconsider its stand. He, however, lashed out at Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh for terming the plea for postponement of the poll as a 'political demand'.

"Political factors, which prevent participation of important elements, are totally relevant to the issue of free and fair election, particularly when both Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani said they wanted greater participation in this election," he said.

"If you are genuinely determined to seek greater participation in poll, you should give more time to various political groups," he said. "Postponing the election to allow greater participation is also necessary to put behind us the era of rigged elections and to show to the world that the process was free and fair."

He said that 13 militant groups, who have given up their activities, have formed a front to take part in the polls. Many more are were willing to join the political process in the changed scenario after the September 11 terror attacks in the US, he added.

"Those who opposed elections for many years are now saying they want to join the process and they should be given time," he said.

"The grounds on which the Election Commission decided not to hold immediate election in Gujarat apply more strongly in case of Jammu and Kashmir as the situation there is more disturbing and dangerous," he said.

Also See:
Seven new faces in NC list for first phase of J&K poll

Jammu and Kashmir Elections 2002: The complete coverage

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