Author: Swati Chaturvedi
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: May 22, 2002
URL: http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/220502/detfro02.asp
Abdul Gani Lone had been receiving
veiled death threats for some time. "You are tired and old and you should
retire. That's what the anonymous callers keep telling me. But I am not
so tired that I should retire before peace prevails in Kashmir," Lone told
the Hindustan Times in an interview last week.
Lone was clear violence was not
the way out. "We need to talk to the Indian and Pakistani Governments for
a solution."
Asked if he and the other Hurriyat
moderate Mirwaiz Umer Farooq would participate in the September elections,
Lone said they could decide only after talks. "Let the Government talk
to us and we can discuss the elections."
Lone was particularly bitter that
last year the state Government had whittled down his security force from
18 to six. "I have told them so many times that I and my family keep getting
threats. Forget Farooq Abdullah, even the Centre does not listen," he complained.
Lone said the first threat came
after he told Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf at the former Pakistani
High Commissioner's tea party, at the time of the Agra summit in 2001,
that Kashmiris were fed up with violence.
He had made a similar statement
in Pakistan when his son married separatist leader Amanullah Khan's daughter.
The threats increased after he returned
from his meeting with ISI chief Ehsan-ul Haq in Dubai and publicly condemned
jehad.
Lone had hoped Prime Minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee's planned visit in June would carry the peace process forward.
"He is not as inimical to Kashmir's interests as the rest. Let us see what
he says," he said.
Lone's son Bilal, who last met him
at 2.15 p.m. on Wednesday, repeated the allegation that his father's security
had been reduced. His elder brother Sajjad said the ISI was involved in
Lone's killing. Lone's family said Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani
was also involved.
