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| Centre, state governments go soft towards separatists again | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, May 23: When the NC led coalition government in J&K changed its stand within hours on Friday , May 21 over allowing All Parties Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq with his "Chalo Idgah" programme, things became amply clear that Centre intends to 'tread a smooth path' once again with the separatist conglomerate and take them on board as far as the dialogue process is concerned.
Mirwaiz, it is pertinent to mention was disallowed one day earlier by the state machinery to go ahead with his programme that was organized in connection with death anniversary of his father Mirwaiz Moulvi Farooq and one more senior separatist leader Prof Abdul Ghani Lone. But by Friday, within hours all restrictions were suddenly lifted and government allowed this function to happen without any hurdle at any place in the downtown city. Mirwaiz Omar, as expected did address a huge gathering and the thrust of his speech was focused on a call to the centre for resumption of dialogue process with separatists.
Though this is being seen by the observers as mere posturing for public consumption, the fact remains that both state government and Centre have once again started paying attention to the separatist camp, both moderate ones and hardliners to rope them into the dialogue process which has remained stalled for a long time now. Dialogue process with separatist which Centre started since the NDA rule led by dynamic leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been punctuated with frequent hiccups necessitated in the wake of some big terror strikes on India from across the border . But since both the countries India and Pakistan lately have become soft towards each other for the purpose of conducting talks, this dimension of talks with separatists simultaneously in a parallel manner is also being considered seriously by the Centre.
In fact an exercise has already been started by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the instructions of Centre, albeit in an utterly discreet and secretive manner in which the latter is belived to have roped in some leaders including Mirwaiz for the purpose of conducting 'meaningful dialogue', sources said. Though, the government has not been able to bring hardliner Syed Ali Shah Gilani into that fold, but the approach and attitude of government towards this lot has lately been such which amply indicates that 'flexibility' is now the catch word of the government with no restrictions and prohitions on where they prefer to go and choose to say.
Though there are as many as five senior separatist leaders lodged in different prisons of the country, sources said as a matter of 'changed' policy of both state and Centre towards separatist, they would be released in a phased manner. They include Shabir Ahmad Shah, Ghulam Nabi Sumji, Masarat Alam, Nayeem Khan and few others. The idea of the government in initiating such steps in a gradual manner is to push dialogue process and give momentum to it in a meaningful way rather than conducting it for the sake of formality.
While resumption of talks with separatists is being seen as steps warranted in the wake of some swiftly changing developments at the level of India and Pakistan in terms of their stance towards settlement and resolution of Kashmir issue, observers feel there are still many more steps to be taken to reach that stage of 'confidence' and trust and mutually agreed roadmap which is understood to be in preparatory stage. When next round of talks happen next month between two foreign ministers, they will assess the progress on same, sources close to government disclosed.
However, at the state level these developments of going soft towards separatists assume importance also in the wake of the fact that both UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh are once again visiting the J&K state during next two weeks, though for separate functions. While these dignitaries are visiting Kashmir for different purposes, sources said the prime objective is to take assessment of the mood of the separatists and progress on the exercise already undertaken by the state government.
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