Estranged Hurriyat (M) leaders look to join Geelani

Many separatist leaders who have decided to part ways with Mirwaiz faction of Hurriyat Conference are said to be approaching Syed Ali Shah Geelani for forging a “grand alliance”.
Sources told the six members who quit from the general council of Hurriyat (M) are in talks with Hurriyat Conference (G) to be part of the Geelani-led amalgam.
The leaders who decided to quit Hurriyat (M) include Peoples League chief Sheikh Yaqoob, Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement chairman, Zaffar Akbar Bhat, Chairman National Peoples Party, Syed Saleem Geelani, Muslim League chairman, Hakeem Abdul Rashid, Chairperson Muslim Khawateen Markaz, Yasmeen Raja, Kashmir Freedom Front Chairman, Syed Bashir Andrabi.
The leaders decided to quit Hurriyat (M) as its executive council alleging that the party was functioning against the 1993 constitution and have become defunct over the years.
However, sources said the main bone of contention in the party has been the presence of Peoples Conference chairman Bilal Gani Lone and former Hurriyat conference chairman Abdul Ghani Bhat.
“The two have become the dictators in the party. Mirwaiz had acknowledged many of the issues that were raised by the members of executive council that were later turned down after the interference of the duo,” sources said.
Meanwhile, Hurriyat (G) spokesperson, Ayaz Akbar confirmed the development, saying that many leaders from Hurriyat (M) have approached them to join the party.
“It is true that many of the leaders of other faction of Hurriyat have expressed their desire to be a part of our amalgam. The leaders include those who have just resigned from Hurriyat (M),” said Akbar, adding, that the talks have been going on for last one week.
Akbar said the party would take final decision in its executive body meeting (Majlis-e-shora) on April 16. “Geelani Sahib is arriving in Srinagar on 15th April. Next day we are having our executive council meeting where the final decision on the proposal will be taken,” said Akbar.
“Hurriyat (G) will welcome all pro-freedom leaders who are willing to work on the principles of Hurriyat constitution that was drafted in 1993,” he added.
Meanwhile, Aga Syed Hassan Mosvi Alsafvi, Javed Mir and Abbas Ansari denied the reports that they were also quitting Hurriyat (M).
“I have some differences with the functioning of the party but as of now I am very much part of it. I will express my reservations before the executive members before taking any decision,” said Alsafvi.
Javed Mir and Abbas Ansari said they are not resigning from the party and would continue to work for the meaningful resolution of Kashmir dispute from the same platform.
Hurriyat Conference has seen two splits since its formation in 1993. Syed Ali Shah Geelani parted ways in 2003 over the proxy participation in assembly elections a year earlier by Sajjad Gani Lone, now a minister in the state government. The second split took place in January last year when senior leaders Shabir Ahmad Shah and Nayeem Khan parted ways with the Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat.