In an unprecedented move, the Awami Itehaad Party (AIP) president and Langate lawmaker Engineer Abdul Rasheed Sheikh on Thursday responded to the offer of senior pro-freedom leader Syed Ali Geelani, saying he is ‘ready to join his hands with pro-freedom camp’.

He said that he is ready to quit assembly if Geelani has a concrete roadmap to represent Kashmiris in a solid way.

Pertinently, Geelani had asked the mainstream politicians to join the pro-freedom ranks and play their role in resolving this long-pending issue.

Addressing a presser here at Srinagar, Er Rasheed told reporters, “I am ready to join the united Hurriyat camp for the larger interests of Kashmiris.”

Terming the statement made by Hurriyat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani as ‘significant’, the AIP president said that the sincere voices should respond to the relevant efforts of pro-freedom leader.

He further said that it is not a time to blame each other but work for resolution of Kashmir dispute and stop New Delhi from its utterances and efforts of changing the disputed nature of Jammu and Kashmir.

“During last eight years, I have met Geelani Sahab on frequent occasion and offered him support from our side, which he has also endorsed through his statement some three years before. Recently senior pro-resistance leader Mirwaiz Molvi Omer Farooq had also revealed that he (Rasheed) is already working for fulfilling aspirations and sentiments of people and had said that pro-freedom leadership and he is on the same page regarding right to self determination,” he said, adding that as such sincere offer of Geelani should be taken seriously by all saner voices.

He also said that New Delhi’s designs to make Kashmiris go defensive by snatching special status needs concrete, united and strategic approach.

“I am seeking appointment with Geelani Sahab, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik and other pro-freedom leaders, so that Geelani Sahab’s offer could be discussed with sincerity,” he said, adding that “We will like to know the modalities of owning Geelani Sahab’s offer in the meeting with Geelani Sahab and others.”

MLA Langate added that he is open to idea of quitting even from the Assembly, if Geelani has some concrete road map to offer in order to represent Kashmiris in a more compact way, I will quit, he said.

He also appealed the former chief minister Omer Abdullah not to carryout personal attacks on Geelani and others for the larger interest of Kashmiris at this stage.

Guest