Hurriyat planning new strategy

It seems time is running out fast for the Kashmir’s separatist leadership to take a bold and decisive move regarding the ongoing stir in the Valley.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik who are part of an alliance which calls itself “Joint Resistance Leadership” on Sunday discussed threadbare the prevailing situation in Kashmir in the backdrop of calls for easing its protest and shutdown calendar which is renewed by it on a weekly basis and which has virtually thrown life out of gear in the Valley for the past nearly four months.

Sources said that the leaders at the meeting acknowledged the urgency of revisiting the calendar and devise a new practical strategy to take the “freedom struggle” forward, but decided to convene a meeting of all stakeholders for an open discussion on the vital issue for generating a widespread consensus. Earlier, both Mr Geelani and the Mirwaiz were urged to reconsider the alliance’s shutdown and protest agenda also by a five-member civil society delegation, led by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union finance minister Yashwant Sinha, which met them during its visit here recently.

The meeting is scheduled to take place here on Tuesday. But, before an assessment of the situation could be made and a decision announced, a semblance of normalcy was witnessed in Srinagar areas with increased movement of people and traffic on the roads on Monday.

For the first time in past about four months, Sumo cabs could be seen plying on select routes of the summer capital and also between Srinagar and Jammu beyond the relaxation period, authorised by the separatists’ alliance. Also, auto-rickshaws and private cars were in motion.

The City centre Lal Chowk witnessed pavement business almost akin to normal days or relaxation periods and shops were open also in some parts of the summer capital. However, life remained affected in rest of the Valley.