Srinagar: Terming the Lok Sabha elections as a "futile exercise" for resolution of the Kashmir issue, a senior leader of the Hurriyat Conference (Ansari) today (Apr 2, 2004) virtually called for a boycott of the exercise.

"I am of the opinion that the people of Jammu and Kashmir should remain aloof from this futile exercise (elections) until the issue (Kashmir) is resolved, former Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said addressing a Friday congregation at historic Jama Masjid in downtown city.

Mirwaiz, who heads the Awami action committee, said the Kashmir issue remained alive despite elections held in the past and the urge among people to attain their "genuine right" intensified over the period of time.

"Elections are neither a solution nor an alternative to the Kashmir problem. Had the elections or transfer of power being solution to the Kashmir issue, the problem would have been addressed as elections were held nearly a dozen times and even transfer of power carried out without elections in the past," Farooq said.

Referring to the peace talks Hurriyat had with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, he urged the people to support the positive steps taken by Hurriyat Conference for finding an everlasting solution to the Kashmir problem.

"The reality is that the people, who till yesterday were not accepting Kashmir as an issue were today openly admitting the disputed nature of Kashmir. Not only that, they are also calling for its immediate solution which is an eye opener for New Delhi, Mirwaiz said without identifying them.