Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 25: The separatist leader and chairman of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), Shabir Ahmad Shah today questioned the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) over terming the separatists irrelevant and asked why did former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, invited separatist leaders for dialogue during his tenure.
Addressing a news conference here, Shah, who was the first separatist to be detained in New Delhi prior to cancelled NSA-level talks, blamed India for its cancellation.
“I ask if Kashmiris weren’t the relevant party to New Delhi then why during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s time meeting separatists was no issue. I also want to ask why New Delhi sent a delegation during the 2010 unrest to meet the separatist leadership,” he said, adding: “during the previous Government of Vajpayee, KC Pant had come with a letter where Government of India had clearly written that they are willing to talk on Kashmir and expected Pakistan to cooperate.”
Pointing towards the remarks of Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj wherein she rejected separatists as third party, Shah said: “Does it mean, she is rejecting Vajpayee and LK Advani, who were proponent of dialogue with us?” he asked.
He said that Kashmir has been internationally accepted as a dispute and India was bound according to the UNSC resolutions to hold a referendum in the State. “India must come to the negotiation table and resolve this ‘political dispute’ according to the wishes and aspirations of Kashmiri people,” he said, adding: “New Delhi talks about Siachin. But isn’t it a part of Kashmir? If they talk about Siachin, why don’t the talk about Kashmir. India must speak in a language of logic and reason.”
Asked about the recent summon of Enforcement Directorate to him, Shah said: “It is the outcome of my recent visit to New Delhi to meet Sartaj Aziz. Actually they have opened a ten year old case. Now on 12 October there is a hearing regarding the case for which I will visit Delhi again.”
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