All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Maulvi Abbas Ansari on Friday offered to step down in an effort to bring back Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Peoples League and Jamaat Islami into its fold.
He proposed the name of moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Omer Farooq as his successor. Ansari set a time limit of one month for the return of the three former constituents.
Addressing a huge gathering at the martyrs' graveyard in downtown Srinagar to commemorate the death anniversaries of two senior separatist leaders, Mirwaiz Moulvi Mohammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone, Ansari said, "I am ready to step down from the chairmanship if that would facilitate the return of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Peoples League and Jamaat Islami and closing of ranks among the separatists in Kashmir."
"All minus Syed Ali Shah Geelani are welcome to return to the fold. I will handover the chairmanship to Omer Farooq if I am an impediment in the unity among the Kashmiri separatists," Ansari said.
Thousands of supporters had gathered at the graveyard to pray for the slain leaders. Launching scathing attacks on those who had been labeling them as 'agents' Ansari said, "We are nobody's agents. The problem of Kashmir will be resolved by Kashmiris only. We won't be cowed down by threats. We have faced them in the past," he said.
Addressing the gathering Omar Farooq said, "Both India and Pakistan should come to ground zero (Kashmir) and resolve the issue on the ground as per the wishes of the people."
Dismissing attacks against Hurriyat, Farooq denied a sellout to New Delhi. "How can anyone even think of a sellout? Can I sell the blood of my father or other martyrs?"
"It is our problem and we are facing the brunt. How can we remain silent? A conducive atmosphere has to be created for a peaceful settlement of the issue," he said.