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Ball is in Centre's court: Shabir Shah

Separatist leader Shabir Shah on Saturday dismissed the Jammu and Kashmir assembly election as a 'sham', adding the Centre should now make efforts to resolve the issue.

"The ball is now in New Delhi's court. Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani's refusal [to meet] has proved that the government cannot face us on the table," Shah said after returning from New Delhi, where he held second round of talks with Kashmir Committee.

"The major achievement of my visit to Delhi was countering the propaganda of Indian rulers that Kashmiris are not willing to negotiate," the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party president said.

Shah said 'conspiracies' were hatched to sabotage efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue. "Not only in Delhi, but the rulers in Srinagar also are creating numerous hurdles in the peace process in order to maintain the status quo in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

He said there was no way his party would contest the election in the state that is meant just for 'governance'. "Our stand on the issue is clear and we have issued instructions to our cadres to stay from the polls."

Asked if he would issue a call for poll boycott, Shah said, "The people of Jammu and Kashmir are politically mature to know what our non-participation means."

Shah denied reports that he would support Congress candidates to prove his weight in Kashmir politics.

"How can we support anyone when we are boycotting the election," he asked. "The polls do not fulfil democratic expectations nor will help in resolving Kashmir issue,"

He flayed the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference for not putting up a united front for talks with the Kashmir Committee. "I wrote a letter to the Hurriyat chairman [Abdul Gani Bhat] before the talks with Kashmir Committee but there was no response," he said.

Jammu and Kashmir Elections 2002: The complete coverage

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