Sopore: In a step forward to form a parallel to Hurriyat Conference, fire-brand Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani on July 4 rejected forum-based politics and sought support of his party to form a cadre-based alternative to the 25-party separatist amalgam.

"The need of the hour is to form a party based on JeI cadres to take the Kashmir issue to its destined resolution," Geelani said addressing his first public meeting since his release from a Ranchi jail in February 2003.

Stating that a decision about the formation of the new amalgam was yet to be taken, Geelani, however, hinted that it would not be on the lines of Hurriyat. "My 10 years of experience has shown that forum politics has failed," he said.

Geelani said those who genuinely wanted to resolve the Kashmir issue can be inducted in the newly floated party and sought support of his parent party (Jamaat) in this regard.

Accusing Hurriyat of adopting "double standards", Geelani said that amalgam had failed to make any headway on the issue of poll boycott call given in 2002 during the Assembly elections.

"While some of the Hurriyat leaders went to Delhi to meet Kashmir Committee chairman Ram Jethmalani, some were busy in making foreign tours," Geelani said and again raised his demand of expulsion of people's conference from the Hurriyat.

Referring to the June 28 meeting of second rung Hurriyat leader at his residence, Geelani said a proposal to form a new party was discussed. "Another alternative was to restructure the Hurriyat," he said.

PTI