Guns & polls won't resolve J&K issue'

While unveiling its roadmap for Kashmir resolution, moderate All Parties Hurriyat Conference group on Monday, challenged New Delhi to take bold initiatives aimed at permanent resolution of the Kashmir issue.

Addressing a public rally at the martyr's graveyard in Eidgah, APHC chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq ruled out participation in polls saying, "We want a permanent settlement of the Kashmir issue. Elections are no solution to the problem."

Mirwaiz said that New Delhi was scared of taking a bold initiative to resolve the Kashmir issue.

"Gun is no solution to the Kashmir problem. It can only be settled through unconditional dialogue," he said, adding, "India has to evolve a consensus and take all major political parties on board for a solution to the problem."

Monday's rally was held in the Eidgah grounds and coincided with the death anniversaries of two prominent separatist leaders, Mirwaiz Moulvi Mohammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone.

"APHC is ready to respond to any initiative aimed at resolving the Kashmir issue and the prime minister should involve all the political parties including BJP in evolving a consensus to resolve the issue."

Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, the chief spokesman of the separatist conglomerate, said APHC's 'self governance was not something of a concession like autonomy.'

"Self governance means the state should have its own President, prime minister, constitution, assembly, Supreme Court and an independent election commission."

He said some forces were opposing President Musharraf's four point formula and instead advocating a life long armed struggle.

"We are not prepared to jump into the fire. If there is total demilitarisation and soft borders, we are ready to participate in the elections," he said.