SRINAGAR, 14 November 2002 — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed yesterday said the release of separatist leaders from prison would help normalize the situation in the insurgency-racked state.
Reacting to reports that New Delhi was uneasy about his government’s policy of releasing separatist leaders, Sayeed said: "I don’t see any reason for the center to feel any concern on this issue.
"My government is committed to give a healing touch and restoring peace with dignity. The release of the (political prisoners) was a step in this direction."
He said this was not the first time political prisoners had been freed in Kashmir.
"(Ali Shah) Geelani, Yasin Malik and others were set free by the state and central governments on different occasions and there was no reason for concern. The state government was very responsible and has taken this decision after due consideration."
Sayeed was talking to reporters about his government’s decision to release political prisoners, including Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Yasin Malik, who was set free from prison on parole on Monday.
The chief minister noted that the decision to release the separatists was being "taken carefully and the government was confident that this would have a good effect on the situation" in the state. He said: "The center was aware of the ground realities in Jammu and Kashmir and our decision."
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had taken "initiatives to break the ice by announcing an unilateral cease-fire during Ramadan, despite being not reciprocated, and continued it for six months" last year.
"It was a good step and no less a person than the Union home secretary came here to hold talks with the Hizb-ul Mujahedeen. The center also engaged K.C. Pant as interlocutor to initiate unconditional talks on Kashmir," he said.
"If these steps were correct, then how can anyone find fault with our decision now? There could be political compulsions of criticizing the decision in view of the Gujarat elections to put our coalition partner (Congress party) in the wrong."
In another development, a Delhi court yesterday rejected the bail plea of Delhi-based journalist Iftikhar Geelani, arrested by police in June on charges of spying.
Iftikhar, a journalist with the Kashmir Times, had been booked under the Official Secrets Act. He was charged with possessing details of Indian troop placements in Kashmir.
Meanwhile, troops shot dead eight militants and lost one soldier in overnight fighting in Kashmir, police said yesterday.
