Ready to quit assembly, join Hurriyat: Kashmir legislator Rasheed

Srinagar, Aug 10: Independent legislator and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) chairman Er Rasheed on Thursday offered to resign from assembly and join united Hurriyat “for the larger Kashmir cause of right to self determination”.
Rasheed made the remarks during a press conference in Srinagar in response to Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s call to pro-India politicians to join the Hurriyat.
“It is not time to blame each other but work for resolution of Kashmir dispute and stop New Delhi from its utterances and efforts, it is indulged in changing the dispute nature of J&K,” said Rasheed.
He said Geelani’s appeal carried significance and relevance and sincere voices need to respond.
“During last eight years, I have met Geelani Sahab on frequent occasion[s] and offered him support from our side, which he has also endorsed through his statement some three years before,” he said.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, he said, has recently said that “Er. Rasheed is already working for fulfilling aspirations and sentiments of people”.
“As such sincere offer of Geelani Sahab should be taken seriously by all saner voices. In fact New Delhi’s designs to make Kashmiris go defensive by snatching special status needs concrete, united and strategic approach,” he added.
Rasheed said that he is seeking an appointment with Geelani Sahab, Mirwaiz, Yaseen Malik and other pro-freedom leaders, so that “Geelani Sahab’s offer could be discussed with sincerity.”
“During meeting with Geelani Sahab and others, we would like to know the modalities of owning Geelani Sahab’s offer.”
Rasheed added that he is open to idea of quitting even from the Assembly, “if Geelani Sahab has some concrete road map to offer in order to represent Kashmiris in a more compact way.”
He appealed Omer Abdullah not to carry out personal attacks on Geelani and others for the “larger interest of Kashmiris at this stage.” (CNS)