Srinagar, April 28:
In a move to forge unity among divided pro-freedom parties, two factions of Muslim Conference (MC) have merged into a single party while talks are on with another key faction of MC which is currently led by Hurriyat (G) General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Sumji.
The two factions of Muslim Conference led by Shabir Ahmad Dar and Mohammad Sultan Magray merged into a single party here after a closed-door meeting.
Both Dar and Magray were earlier associated with the Muslim Conference faction led by senior Hurriyat (M) leader Professor Abdul Gani Bhat. Dar was the deputy of Bhat, but later parted ways over some personal issues, while Magray was expelled by Professor Bhat over anti-party activities.
“Magray was expelled from the party sometime back for his anti-party activities and dirty politics,” Bhat had told Rising Kashmir then.
There are over 30 small and large pro-freedom groups which are associated with either Hurriyat (M) or Hurriyat (G), while few parties are working independently.
Dar, who has also served as the spokesman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) in New Delhi till 2004, told Rising Kashmir that he was unanimously nominated as the chairman of their faction that merged into one Muslim Conference.
The MC leaders, apart from Dar and Magray, who participated in the meeting, were Mehraj ud Din Soleh, Nazir Ahmad, Abdul Hamid and Farooq Ahmad Reshi.
Dar said the efforts for unity will continue.
“We are in talks with another faction of Muslim Conference led by Sumji, which is presently a constituent of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani. We have almost reached the consensus and very soon another step towards unity will be seen in the pro-freedom camp,” he said.
He said that they will not approach Professor Abdul Gani who also heads one faction of MC.
“No there is no way forward with Bhat. We will hopefully merge with Muslim Conference of Sumji…we are working to forge another unity,” he said.
However, when contacted Ghulam Nabi Sumji said as of now they have not approached him through a proper channel. “We will take a call on it once approached,” he told Rising Kashmir.
Courtesy: Rising Kashmir
