Land row: Hurriyat ready to find a solution

All Party Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq on Sunday said the Hurriyat was willing to find an amicable solution to the problems that Kashmir has witnessed after the state government headed by Gulam Nabi Azad had first allotted land to the Kashmiris for creation of facilities to Sri Amarnath Shrine Board.

He made the offer to hold talks in a conversation with rediff.com over telephone from his residence in Srinagar.

In order to ease of the growing pressure from 'fundamentalist Hindu organizations', the Mirwaiz  and other Hurriyat leaders had given a call to march to Muzaffarabad to counter what he called 'economic blockade' of the Valley by the people of Jammu.

"They placed me under house arrest. We are willing to find a solution by holding talks, but those who communalised the issue must climb down first," he said.

He claimed that thousands of Kashmiris will march towards Muzaffarabad following the call given by him.

Asked about his reservations against the Amarnath Yatra, which concludes on August 16, he said: "The Yatra has been going on for a long time and nobody is against it. The government of India has sent an all-party delegation to the Valley and Jammu to hold talks, but things have not worked out. As I said, we can find an amicable solution, which is acceptable to both sides. When things seem to be going nicely, there is a provocative statement from Vishwa Hindu Parishad. How do you find a solution under such circumstances?"

Both VHP and Bharatiya Janata Party leaders are stressing that since the Kashmiri Muslims can buy property anywhere in India, likewise, any Indian should have right to buy land in Kashmir.

Hurriyat chairman under house arrest
The APHC chairman was on Sunday placed under house arrest, a day ahead of 'Muzaffarabad chalo' programme announced by the separatists to counter the 'economic blockade' of the Valley.

"Police sealed my house at Nigeen as well as Mirwaiz anzil at Rajouri Kadal where a meeting of coordination committee was going on regarding 'Muzaffarabad challo' programme," Mirwaiz said.

He said leaders of different political, religious, traders and fruit growers' bodies were meeting to finalise the programme for Monday when the police action came.

Terming the government action as 'unfortunate', Mirwaiz alleged that the government has been exhibiting this type of high-handedness for a long time.

However, he said that the programme will take place despite the restrictions.

Hardline separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani is already under house arrest for the last six days.

Additional inputs: PTI