Srinagar, Sept 07: Former Hurriyat chairman Abdul Ghani Bhat today termed the no-confidence move and subsequent expulsion of the present chairman as "illegal" and said the move was only aimed at satisfying the "narcissistic tendencies of vested interests for leadership." "No one can expel a Hurriyat chairman chosen by executive of the amalgam. It's illegal and unconstitutional," Bhat told a news agency over phone from his native place from Baramulla.

"The authority of choosing the chairman of Hurriyat lies only with executive council. The no-confidence, if at all, required against the chairman can therefore be moved only by the members of the executive council", he said. "The members of the general council have absolutely in no way any authority to do it," he said adding this was unconstitutional and therefore illegal.

The former chairman, had moved the name of present incumbent Maulana Abbas Ansari for the chairmanship, which was supported by other executive members. Ever since Abbas' nomination, simmering differences started emerging in Hurriyat Conference with Sayed Ali Shah Geelani terming his appointment as unconstitutional. Earlier in the day, Hurriyat formally split with 13 of the 25 members expressing no-confidence in Abbas besides expelling Bhat.

Bureau Report