Srinagar, Sept 16: Down-playing the taking over of fire-brand leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani as chairman of the breakaway group as 'inconsequential', Hurriyat Conference today said it will continue efforts for reconciliation between the two groups. "For god's sake, let us call a spade a spade... A split has happened in the Hurriyat at the general council level but the executive council, which is empowered by the Constitution to take decisions, is still intact," former Hurriyat chairman Abdul Gani Bhat told reporters after four executive members of the Hurriyat met at the amalgam's headquarters at Rajbagh here.

Chairman Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari, Awami Action Committee chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and People's Conference representative Bilal Gani Lone attended the meeting described as extra-ordinary by Bhat. On the absence of representatives of JKLF, Jamaat-e-Islami and People's League (PL), Bhat said JKLF has not taken a decision yet while "we are hoping that Jamaat and PL will also come (back)".

He said Mirwaiz, who was authorised at the last executive meet to talk to the rebels general council members, is busy talking to them and we hope that his efforts will bear fruit. Asked if the executive will take disciplinary action against the dissidents, Bhat said "I am not a prophet of doom. I am an optimist and we will continue to strive for reconciliation (between the two groups)".

Bureau Report