The hardline faction of All Parties Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Monday received a shot in the arm when pro-Pakistan Peoples' League headed by Sheikh Abdul Aziz joined it.
Criticising the rival Hurriyat faction headed by moderate leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq for holding talks with the Centre, Sheikh said, "They have deviated from the Hurriyat constitution and entered into talks ... a futile exercise."
He said his party has already rejected the talks. "History is witness that dialogue between Kashmiri leadership and the government has concluded in sell out," he claimed.
Sheikh, however, said his party would participate in the talks which are Kashmir centric and involves all the three parties to the issue -- India, Pakistan and representatives of the people of Kashmir.
Unless a conducive atmosphere was created for trilateral talks, dialogue with the government would be a futile attempt, he said.
Sheikh claimed this was not the stand of the Peoples' League alone but of other like-minded parties JKLF, Jammat-e- Islami, Bar Association and Democratic Freedom Party.
Announcing the decision to join the Geelani faction at a news conference, he said the advisory board of his party took the decision after due consideration and debate.
Terming it as the real Hurriyat, he said his party decided to join and support the leadership, which works in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people.
He said other like minded parties including Peoples Democratic Party of Shabir Ahmad Shah and Kashmir Bar
Association should also support Geelani-led Hurriyat.