Maintain brotherhood: Separatists to people

Appealing to people in Jammu and Kashmir to maintain peace and brotherhood, both factions of the separatist Hurriyat Conference today accused mainstream parties of playing politics over Kishtwar clashes for their vested interests.
"Some elements for vote bank politics are hell-bent to sow seeds of communalism in the state," Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani said in a statement here.
"Both communities (Hindus and Muslims) since time immemorial have maintained mutual harmony and brotherhood.
"However, some vested communal powers are hell-bent to tarnish the fabric of mutual brotherhood," the chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat said.
Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, in a statement, said "the situation in Kishtwar is a result of machiavellian politics played out by the mainstream parties for electoral gains."

Both the separatist leaders demanded disarming and disbanding of Village Defence Committees (VDCs) saying "their very existence is the root cause of all problems".
"Members affiliated with VDCs are responsible for the current turmoil and are involved in killings and incidents of arson and extortion," hardliner Geelani said.