NEW DELHI: Hurriyat Conference in Jammu and Kashmir is evolving a consensus to launch a joint agitation against the 'settlement' of West Pak Refugees in Jammu and Kashmir, which they think is aimed at changing the demography of the state.

According to the sources, all factions of the separatist leadership are in touch with each other to form a coordination committee that is aimed at opposing any such move.

The idea of a Coordination Committee was floated by senior Hurriyat Conference (Jk) leader Shabir Shah but was soon hijacked by Hurriyat Conference (M), who have sent missionaries to the other factions to garner support for joint resistance.

"I actually floated the idea of coordination but soon got calls from Hurriyat Mirwaiz group on the same issue, they even sent their two leaders to me to evolve a consensus" said Shabir Shah, Chairman Democratic Freedom Party.

Shabir Shah, who parted his ways with Hurriyat Conference (M) last year along with Nayeem Khan and others, is in close proximity with Hurriyat Conference (G) group said that they will fight tooth and nail against the Joint Parliamentary recommendation on the settlement of West Pakistan refugees in Jammu and Kashmir.

"There is no way they (West Pakistan Refugees) will be allowed as citizens of Jammu and Kashmir, this will be strongly opposed" he said. He was categorical, “ I don't accept the JPC recommendations".

Meanwhile, sources added that Hurriyat conference (M) has constituted a two member committee on January 15, to met all representatives of the separatist groups and civil society to garner support for the coordination committee.

"The committee has met almost all leaders including Hurriyat (G)' s Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, JKLF's Yasin Malik and others and discussed threadbare the need for joint resistance,” a senior Hurriyat leader said.

However all the separatists have not been contacted. "No, I have not been contacted on joint resistance issue, and i believe it is time to join us all once and for all for peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue," Azam Inqilabi, Chief Patron Jammu Kashmir Mahaz-e-Azadi told The Citizen.

"Resettlement of West Pak Refugees in Kashmir will only add fuel to the fire and will instigate violence besides complicating the Kashmir issue. India should first address the core issue of Kashmir resolution" he added.

Chairman of Hurriyat (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the conglomerate will soon finalize modalities for joint resistance against ‘settlement’ of West Pakistan refugees.

“It is encouraging that all pro-freedom groups and people from different walks of life have favored our joint resistance plan on the issue. We will formulate the course of action on the basis of the Committee’s report which comprises suggestions from other pro-freedom groups and civil society members,” Mirwaiz told reporters in Srinagar.

He added that New Delhi is in a mood to polarize the situation and pitch Kashmir against Jammu by settling non-state subjects including West Pakistan refugees.

All separatist groups including Hurriyat (G), Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Hurriyat Conference Jammu and Kashmir have opposed New Delhi’s proposal to ‘settle’ of West Pakistan refugees.

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