Separatists unite, plan Amarnath-like agitation in Jammu and Kashmir

In a repeat of 2008, separatists are bracing for a major showdown with the government over alleged human rights violations.

The moderate Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has set the ball rolling. It is roping in trade unions, traders, transporters, lawyers and other civil society groups, besides separatists, to restart an agitation akin to the stir over the 2008 Amarnath land row in Kashmir.

Hurriyat is holding an all-party meeting on June 24 to discuss future course of action. The moderates have even sunk differences with hardliners and have invited Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani for the meeting.

“We want to coordinate protests. Human rights violations are growing by the day and people are suffering. We [moderates and hardliners] have been protesting these violations separately, creating problems [for people] at times. Therefore, we want a joint programme,” Syed Saleem Geelani, spokesman for the moderate Hurriyat, said.

It will be the first time after 2008 that separatists will hold parleys with different sections of society to agitate against the government.

In 2008, they had formed a coordination committee comprising trade unions, fruit dealers, traders, chamber of commerce and others to prevent Amarnath land transfer.

The agitation led to fall of the Ghulam Nabi Azad government in the state. Alliance partner PDP withdrew support, forcing Azad to resign.

“We are holding an executive and general council meeting tomorrow [Tuesday] to discuss the situation. It will set the stage for the all-party meeting on June 24. We want to get inputs which will form the basis of our programme,” Saleem said.

In the past 10 days, three people have been killed by security forces. Scores of people, including police and CRPF personnel, have been injured in subsequent stone-pelting, pushing the Valley to the brink once again.

“It is a question of life and death. We need to unite because there is no guarantee of life in Kashmir. The all-party meeting is a right step to blunt the tools of tyrants,” Aga Syed Hassan, Shia cleric and executive committee member of Hurriyat, said.

Even legislators of Srinagar are feeling the heat. All eight seats in the capital are held by the ruling National Conference. The increased violence has forced them to rush to chief minister Omar Abdullah with an SOS.

“We shall take all appropriate steps to prevent human rights violation,” Omar told the legislators.

Meanwhile, life came to a grinding halt in Kashmir on Monday as people observed a strike against the killings. The call was given by all separatist groups. Shops, business establishments and government offices were closed and vehicles were off roads.