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Meeting between Hurriyat Conference leaders might not be talks for peace, but for forwarding seperatist agenda.
Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit
File Photo
The Congress party on Tuesday said that the meeting between Hurriyat Conference leaders with Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit was not in the interest of the nation and added that talks between India and Pakistan should be held for peace and not for encouraging separatism.”It is because of such incidents that talks were cancelled last time. Pakistan encouraging the separatists is not in the interest of the nation. The talks should be held, it should held for peace and not to encourage separatism,” Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”If the talks were cancelled last time after they met separatists, then the government should clarify why talks should continue after these talks,” he added.On Monday, a delegation of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) met Abdul Basit and discussed External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s recent meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.According to an APHC release, Hurriyat leaders also discussed ‘Kashmir policy’ with Basit.Last week, during Swaraj’s visit to Pakistan, it was announced that the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan will meet on January to discuss the details of the comprehensive bilateral dialogue.According to the joint statement released by both nations, the discussions will involve peace and security, Jammu and Kashmir, Siachen, Economic and Commercial Cooperation, Counter-Terrorism, Humanitarian Issues, People to People exchanges and religious tourism.
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“Hurriyat chairman has many times in the past 25 years got invitation from this world body but due to the non-availability of the travel documents, he could not participate in those meetings. Geelani Sahab has started to complete the necessary formality in this regard”, said spokesman of Geelani led hard-line faction of the Hurriyat Conference.
For the first time in 25 years, Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani is all set to participate in the foreign ministers meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in New York starting September 27.”Hurriyat chairman has many times in the past 25 years got invitation from this world body but due to the non-availability of the travel documents, he could not participate in those meetings. Geelani Sahab has started to complete the necessary formality in this regard”, said spokesman of Geelani led hard-line faction of the Hurriyat Conference.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>However it remains to be seen whether the centre will allow pro-Pakistan Hurriyat hawk to travel to New York to attend the OIC meet.Geelani was issued the short duration passport in July this year to visit his ailing daughter Farhat Jabeen Geelani in Jeddah, Saudia Arabia later.The 86 year old Pro-Pakistan hawk had applied for the passport in May this year.Though he could travel to Jeddah, this time around he is using the travel documents to visit New York to attend the OIC meeting.”Geelani Sahab will try his level best to represent the voices and concerns of the subjugated Kashmiries. He will aware the world leaders about the serious and grave situation of Kashmir and impress upon them to bat for the resolution of the long pending Kashmir dispute according to its historical perspective”, said the spokesman.Geelani is among the three separatist leaders including moderate Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who have been invited to attend the OIC foreign ministers meet in New York.
A three member delegation met the Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit to hand him the letter.
Ayaz Akbar, Hurriyat Conference spokesperson said that the Geelani’s (above) letter is confidential and highly important
File Photo
Jammu and Kashmir’s hardliner separatist Syed Ali Shah on Wednesday sent a confidential letter to Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, reports IANS. A three member delegation met the Pakistan envoy Abdul Basit to hand him the letter.The delegation which comprised of Geelani’s top aides Ayaz Akbar, Peer Saifullah, and Altaf Ahmad met with Basit and spoke to him for an hour.Ayaz Akbar, Hurriyat Conference spokesperson said that the letter is confidential and highly important. “Officials at the high commission assured us that the letter will be dispatched to the Pakistan prime minister on Wednesday,” he added.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Geelani was set to meet Pakistan’s NSA Sartaj Aziz during the India-Pakistan NSA talks which was scuttled.
Mirwaiz said New Delhi was not serious about dialogue and they wanted to put Kashmir off the table which is not acceptable.
Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah shouts pro-freedom slogans in Srinagar on Saturday
AFP
Hurriyat Conference, which was the main bone of contention for India and Pakistan, squarely blamed New Delhi for stalling the NSA-level talks, saying the sidelining of Kashmir issue will not be acceptable at any cost.”Unfortunately, India put unnecessary conditions for the talks with an intention to stall them in the tracks. In Ufa, it was decided that all issues will be discussed. What was the big deal if Kashmir was also discussed,” Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference, told dna.Mirwaiz said New Delhi was not serious about dialogue and they wanted to put Kashmir off the table which is not acceptable.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”Kashmir is a core issue and we are the primary party and stakeholders to it. New Delhi and Islamabad may have other issues as well. But when it comes to Kashmir, there can be no movement forward unless its primary parties are involved,” he said.Moderate Hurriyat chief, who was supposed to lead a delegation to meet Aziz, said New Delhi has gone back from the stand taken by the NDA-1 led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.”During Vajpayee era it was decided that Hurriyat would talk to both New Delhi and Islamabad. But the new NDA government has revoked it which is very unfortunate,” he said.Earlier in the day the centre had tightened noose around separatists and detained two senior leaders at the Delhi airport in a bid to prevent them from joining the reception of visting Pakistani NSA Sartaj Aziz.Senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah and moderate Hurriyat Conference executive council member Bilal Gani Lone were detained soon after they landed at the Delhi airport and later placed under house arrest.Shah along with his aide Mohammad Abdullah Tari and Zamir Ahmad were supposed to join the reception of Aziz in Pakistani high commission office on Sunday evening.Lone was supposed to join the delegation of moderate Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in Delhi on Sunday before going to the Pakistani high commission in the evening.”I had told Mirwaiz sahab that I will join the delegation in Delhi on Sunday. When I arrived in Delhi this evening, a police posse took me into custody and put me under house arrest,” Lone told dna.Zamir Ahmad, the spokesman of Shah led Democratic Freedom Party, told dna that they have been placed under house arrest in the guest house in South Extension Delhi.”When we were disembarking from the plane we were taken into custody and placed under house arrest in the guest house which we had booked for the stay,” said Ahmad.The Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led Jammu and Kashmir government too had chipped in to ask separatists to listen to their conscience whether they want to become a bridge or spoiler for the talks between the two NSAs.”Leadership should ask themselves whether they should facilitate or unfacilitate dialogue,” Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, political analyst to J&K chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, told dna.
New Delhi: As uncertainty loomed large over Indo-Pak NSA talks, moderate Hurriyat Conference leader Bilal Lone and Shabir Shah were among four separatist leaders detained today at Delhi airport to prevent them from meeting Pakistan’s NSA Sartaj Aziz in the event of his arrival here.
All the four separatist leaders were put under house arrest in the capital, official sources said. Lone, who is the executive member of moderate faction of Hurriyat led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, was stopped at the ladder of the aircraft as he deplaned and was informed that he was under detention and would remain confined to his rented accommodation in South Delhi, the sources said.
Separatist leader Bilal Lone. AFP
Lone is the fourth separatist leader from Kashmir who was detained at the Delhi airport. Earlier, Shabir Shah, who broke away from Hurriyat last year and formed his Democratic Freedom Party, was detained along with two senior members of his party in the morning.
Bilal refused to make any comments about his detention. The separatist leaders were told that “restrictions have been imposed on their movement in the national capital” ahead a possible talks between Aziz and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval, official sources said.
Shah along with two other separatist leaders Mohammed Abdullah Tari and Zamir Ahmed Sheikh are under house arrest in a south Delhi guest house and the trio will remain confined to that place only.
All the separatist leaders have been given an option that they were free only to travel to Srinagar, in case they wanted to. While leaving Srinagar, Shah had said the he would like to meet Aziz. “Today we are going to ask the people of India whether former Indian Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, their leader L K Advani or Manmohan Singh were wrong. During their tenure, they never blocked us from meeting Pakistani officials when they came to India…
“Kashmir is an important issue…Pakistan’s stand is clear. They are saying that they will come for talks and present whatever they want to say. India can also put forward its argument but Kashmir issue must be included,” he insisted.
The top separatist leaders have received an invite from Pakistan High Commission in Delhi for a reception being hosted for Aziz, who is scheduled to arrive in Delhi tomorrow afternoon to hold talks with Doval on Monday if everything goes as per plans.
The Pakistan High Commission’s invitation to hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other separatist leaders to meet Aziz has upset New Delhi but Pakistan has stuck to the line that such meetings were “routine”.
PTI
Shah, who parted ways with moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference last year and formed a separate unit, was placed under house arrest on Friday and not allowed to go for Friday prayers.
File Photo
AFP photo
In a new twist ahead of Indo-Pak NSA-level talks, Kashmiri separatist leader Shabbir Shah, was detained on Saturday on arrival at the Delhi airport and will not be allowed to meet Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Sartaj Aziz here tomorrow. As soon as he deplaned, central security agencies along with Delhi Police asked him about the place where he would be staying in Delhi and later drove him there.The separatist leaders were told that “restrictions have been imposed on their movement in the national capital” ahead of talks between Aziz and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval, official sources said. Shah along with two other separatist leaders Mohammed Abdullah Tari and Zamir Ahmed Sheikh will stay in a south Delhi guest house and the trio will remain confined to that place only. His associate Zamir told PTI that they were being taken to the guest house which they had booked and the officers politely told Shah that the team was free to go back to Srinagar.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>While leaving Srinagar, Shah had said the he would like to meet Aziz. “Today we are going to ask the people of India whether former Indian Prime Minister A B Vajpayee, their leader L K Advani or Manmohan Singh were wrong. During their tenure, they never blocked us from meeting Pakistani officials when they came to India…Kashmir is an important issue…Pakistan’s stand is clear. They are saying that they will come for talks and present whatever they want to say. India can also put forward its argument but Kashmir issue must be included,” he insisted.Shah, who parted ways with moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference last year and formed a separate unit, was placed under house arrest on Friday and not allowed to go for Friday prayers.The top separatist leaders have received an invite from Pakistan High Commission in Delhi for a reception being hosted for Aziz, who is scheduled to arrive in Delhi on Sunday afternoon to hold talks with Doval on Monday. The Pakistan High Commission’s invitation to hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other separatist leaders to meet Aziz has upset New Delhi but Pakistan has stuck to the line that such meetings were “routine”.
Alam arrested in April for allegedly hoisting Pakistani flags and chanting anti-national slogans.
After 4 years of detention, Alam was released in March soon after the PDP-led government came to power.
Photo Courtesy: ANI Twitter
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Friday quashed the detention under Public Safety Act (PSA) of hardline separatist leader Masarat Alam who was arrested in April for allegedly hoisting Pakistani flags and chanting anti-national slogans.Justice Hasnain Masoodi, who had earlier reserved order on the petition filed by Alam’s counsel, quashed the PSA detention of the 45-year-old separatist leader. Alam was arrested on April 17 in connection with the raising of Pakistani flags and chanting of anti-national slogans during a rally organised by hardline Hurriyat Conference to welcome Syed Ali Shah Geelani from New Delhi.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Police had registered a case against several separatist leaders including Bhat and Hurriyat Conference chairman Geelani for provocative activities including hoisting of Pakistani flag. An FIR under sections 13 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 120-B, 147, 341, 336, 427 RPC was registered in Budgam Police Station against Alam and other separatist leaders.Alam was released in March — soon after the PDP-led government came to power — after over four years of detention in connection with the 2010 summer agitation in the valley. His release had created a furore across the country and the issue had even figured in the Parliament proceedings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi making a statement on the floor of the house.
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Friday quashed the detention under Public Safety Act (PSA) of hardline separatist leader Masarat Alam who was arrested in April for allegedly hoisting Pakistani flags and chanting anti-national slogans.
Masarat Alam. AFP
Justice Hasnain Masoodi, who had earlier reserved order on the petition filed by Alam’s counsel, quashed the PSA detention of the 45-year-old separatist leader.
Alam was arrested on 17 April in connection with the raising of Pakistani flags and chanting of anti-national slogans during a rally organised by hardline Hurriyat Conference to welcome Syed Ali Shah Geelani from New Delhi.
Police had registered a case against several separatist leaders including Bhat and Hurriyat Conference chairman Geelani for provocative activities including hoisting of Pakistani flag.
An FIR under sections 13 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 120-B, 147, 341, 336, 427 RPC was registered in Budgam Police Station against Alam and other separatist leaders.
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Alam was released in March – soon after the PDP-led government came to power – after over four years of detention in connection with the 2010 summer agitation in the valley.
His release had created a furore across the country and the issue had even figured in the Parliament proceedings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi making a statement on the floor of the house.
PTI
“The hanging is against all humanitarian norms and principals of fair play of justice. Ignoring the real and actual facts about the case, a person about whom there reportedly was no strong and credible evidence of having direct involvement in the supposed case has been put to death,” a Hurriyat spokesman said here
Both the factions of Hurriyat Conference on Thursday criticised the hanging of Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon and alleged that established norms of justice were “blatantly” ignored in the case.”The hanging is against all humanitarian norms and principals of fair play of justice. Ignoring the real and actual facts about the case, a person about whom there reportedly was no strong and credible evidence of having direct involvement in the supposed case has been put to death,” a Hurriyat spokesman said here. Moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the established norms of justice were blatantly ignored in the case.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>Hardline Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani has expressed deep sorrow and grief over the hanging of Memon. He said that intelligence officers interrogating Memon had recommended that he should not be given capital punishment. “If Indian Judiciary is providing justice on the base of equality, then the criminals involved in the bloodshed of Samjhauta Express, Mecca Masjid and Malegaon blasts and Gujarat like incidents should also be hanged,” the amalgam said.Hurriyat appealed the Kashmiri people to organise special prayers for Memon. Meanwhile, president of Dukhtaran e-Millat, Syedah Aasiyeh Andrabi, said, “Indian jails are filled with criminals. Even those who killed Indian prime minister have since been awarded a capital punishment but that is not being implemented on one or the other weak pretext. But on the other hand, Memon was hanged despite many voices being raised even within India”.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has reportedly filed a chargesheet against the two separatist leaders associated with hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani claiming their alleged involvement in funding the terror activities.
ED has reportedly filed a chargesheet against the two separatist leaders associated with hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani
File Photo
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has reportedly filed a chargesheet against the two separatist leaders associated with hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani claiming their alleged involvement in funding the terror activities.According to reports, the ED has alleged that the duo were found receiving money from Italy and was to be used for unlawful activities relating to militancy funding.
Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and senior executive member Masroor Abbas Ansari will attend the Eid Milan party being hosted by Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit, its spokesman said.
File Photo
dna Research & Archives
Moderate Hurriyat Conference today said it will attend the Eid Milan at Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on July 21 and utilise the occasion to stress that India and Pakistan cannot resolve their “secondary issues” without including Kashmir in the dialogue process.Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and senior executive member Masroor Abbas Ansari will attend the Eid Milan party being hosted by Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit, its spokesman said.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”Although Hurriyat Conference supports the dialogue process between India and Pakistan, the two countries cannot resolve their secondary issues without including Kashmir in the dialogue process. We will present this stand clearly during our visit (to Pakistan High Commission),” the spokesman said after a meeting chaired by chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.The spokesman said Hurriyat’s decision to attend the event was not a political reaction but based on its decided policy and principles for resolution of the Kashmir issue.Hardline Hurriyat Conference has decided to boycott the event to protest non-inclusion of Kashmir in the talks that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif held in Ufa in Russia last week.
With the exception of the moderate Hurriyat Conference, most separatists on Friday said the joint statement by the Indian and Pakistan prime ministers had come as a “disappointment” for the people of Kashmir and that their meeting in Russia was in keeping with “diplomatic compulsion”.
PTI
With the exception of the moderate Hurriyat Conference, most separatists on Friday said the joint statement by the Indian and Pakistan prime ministers had come as a “disappointment” for the people of Kashmir and that their meeting in Russia was in keeping with “diplomatic compulsion”.”We did not expect any breakthrough from the meeting. It was just a diplomatic compulsion for the prime ministers of the two countries,” Ayaz Akbar, spokesman of the hardline Hurriyat, led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, told PTI.He said that instead of such meetings, where a wide range of issues are discussed, the two countries should focus on the core issue of Kashmir.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –>”Our stand is clear; they (India, Pakistan) should both concentrate on the core issue and resolve Kashmir. Till Kashmir issue is addressed, such talks will be futile. They will be disappointing,” he said.Akbar said “there is nothing new” in the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif. “These have been going on and such meetings are not result-oriented,” he added.JKLF chairman Mohammad Yaseen Malik termed the process “futile” and said the joint statement had disappointed the people of Kashmir.”Issues and conflicts can only be resolved through dialogue. But the way this process has been turned futile and non-serious in case of Jammu and Kashmir has created doubts in the minds of common people and the people of the state have lost faith in this institution.”The joint declaration issued after the meeting has disappointed Kashmiris,” he said. War cannot end problems and dialogue is the only way to resolve conflicts and issues, Malik said.He added, however, that “for the success of dialogue, it is equally important to have seriousness and focus on conflict resolution”. “Dialogue should not be for fun, timepass and putting real issues on the back-burner. Kashmiris are not against peace and progress between Indian and Pakistan.”We want these two countries to get together and resolve their issues but, at the same time, Indian and Pakistani leadership will have to also demonstrate some magnanimity regarding Kashmiris,” Malik said.He said that the two countries cannot prosper and progress while “keeping the entire Kashmiri nation as hostage for their petty gains”.”India and Pakistan have held several rounds of talks in the last 68 years, but have failed to make any progress, especially on Kashmir. This non-seriousness and inconclusive attitude is responsible for the disaster of Kashmiri nation, which has lost its three generations in the last six decades.”This attitude of timepass and putting serious issues on the back-burner will further ignite the situation and Indian and Pakistani leaders should know that without resolving the Jammu and Kashmir issue, the dreams of a peaceful and progressive South Asia will never come true,” he said.The moderate Hurriyat Conference, meanwhile, welcomed the meeting, saying that the basic issue between the two countries was that of Kashmir.”The basic issue between India and Pakistan is Kashmir. Neither can it be sidelined nor ignored. Both the countries need to understand that the core issue is not terrorism, Siachen, trade or the 26/11 Mumbai attacks trial case,” Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq told reporters .He, however, said that unless talks were held on Kashmir, the dialogue process cannot move forward.”These issues are important, but the core issue is Kashmir. Unless there are talks on the core issue of Kashmir, the dialogue process cannot move forward,” he said.He said that headway on the Kashmir issue would lead to “automatic progress” on the other matters as well. “If they (prime ministers of India and Pakistan) want to move forward… Modi is visiting Pakistan next year and they have full one year before that to take Kashmir-specific measures and pay complete attention to the core issue. Other issues between the two countries will get settled automatically,” he said.
All shops, business establishments, schools, colleges are closed and public transport is off from the roads.
Heavy Police personnel deployed around Civil Secretariat in Srinagar on Monday after the killing of a civilian by unidentified gunman in Sopore.
PTI
The Hurriyat Conference (G), Hurriyat Conference (M) and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) have jointly called for a complete shutdown across Kashmir on Wednesday, over the killings of civilians at Sopore in Baramulla district. All shops, business establishments, schools, colleges are closed and public transport is off from the roads. “We request government that the culprit should be brought forth because those killed are not at fault. They are being killed for unknown reasons. This is the reason why Srinagar is closed today. And the call is being made by the Hurriyat leaders,” said a local.<!– Dna_Article_Middle_300x250_BTF –> On Sunday, a former militant was shot at by unidentified persons. He was reportedly rushed to the hospital, before he succumbed to his injuries. This shooting was the latest in a string of similar incidents in Sopore.
Srinagar: Several leaders of hardline Hurriyat Conference including chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani were on Saturday put under house arrest by authorities to foil the plans of the amalgam to hold a controversial seminar tomorrow that was dubbed as ‘ant-national’.
A posse of policemen has been deployed outside the residence of Geelani and no one is allowed to enter or leave the premises, a spokesman of the Hurriyat said. The police action came even as Jammu and Kashmir government said it will not allow “anti-India” activities in the state.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Reuters
“No such rally or seminar will be allowed in the land of Jammu and Kashmir since we feel it will be anti-national activity,” Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said. “The law will take its own course,” he said, adding,” no anti-national activity can be allowed on any part of the country.”
A Hurriyat spokesman said Muhammad Ashruf Sehrai, Ayaz Akbar and Raja Mehraj-ud-din were the others who were placed under house arrest on the eve of the planned seminar.
Police officials refused to confirm or deny the house arrest of the separatist leaders. Geelani, while condemning the move, said the government has shown intolerance even to peaceful programmes.
“The government has completely buried the ‘Battle of Ideas’ slogan of the (Chief Minister) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed,” Geelani said in a statement here. The Hurriyat has planned to hold a seminar to which several separatist leaders, including from Sikhs groups, and Christian community representatives have been invited.
“Hurriyat Conference has decided to organise a seminar in Srinagar on June 14 in which people from different walks of life will express their views on the topic ‘How to Resist the Indian State Fascism’,” a spokesman of the separatist amalgam said earlier this week.
Those invited for the seminar include Akali Dal leader Simranjit Singh Mann, Dal Khalsa leader Kanwarpal Singh, noted human rights activist Gautam Navlakha and representatives of the Christian community.
PTI
Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani has done it again. The separatist leader announced that he will be holding an anti-India seminar and Geelani has invited several separatist leaders, including from Sikhs groups, and Christian community representatives.
Speaking to PTI on Tuesday, a spokesperson of the separatist amalgam, said, “Hurriyat Conference has decided to organise a seminar in Srinagar on 14 June in which people from different walks of life will express their views on the topic ‘How to Resist the Indian State Fascism’.”.
Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Reuters
“The personalities who have been invited for the proposed seminar include Akali Dal leader Simranjit Singh Mann, Dal Khalsa leader Kanwarpal Singh, noted human rights activist Gautam Navlakha and representatives of the Christian community,” the spokesman added.
He said it will be an important seminar in which prominent scholars, intellectuals, writers and “pro-freedom leaders” of Kashmir would also participate.
“Terming the communal and fascist agendas of the new Indian government as deadly, Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani cautioned that if this nuisance is not collectively countered, besides Kashmiris, the existence and the identity of all the minorities of India will be in acute danger and their future will be very bleak. He said that the communal forces of India want to saffronize this entire region and want to implement their fanatic Hindutva policies here. And for this purpose they are using their state power and are breaching all the moral and cultural boundaries. Geelani further said in his statement that besides in Kashmir, a public awareness campaign should be run in the whole of India to counter the dangerous and wicked agendas of the RSS and its allied parties so that the minorities can raise up to protect their existence, their identity and their religion.”
The announcement comes days after Geelani told the media, “I am not by birth Indian. It is a compulsion.” The Hurriyat leader was at a passport office in Srinagar and appeared there to declare himself an Indian while completing formalities for travel documents.
A Hurriyat spokesman had justified Geelani writing Indian in the nationality column saying “travelling on the Indian passport is a compulsion of every Kashmiri.”
“Geelani too is compelled to complete the formalities in this regard,” he added. The Centre had slammed Geelani and said that the Indian government will not tolerate any “separatist jargon.”
The issue of granting passport to Geelani had sparked a political debate with ruling BJP opposing it saying that he should declare his nationality as Indian and apologise for his anti-national activities.
Earlier in April, Geelani arrived to a rousing reception in Srinagar, after spending over three months in Delhi. He was taken from the airport to his Hyderpora residence in a procession led by Masarat Alam.
After Geelani’s speech, a large section of the youth raised slogans in favour of Alam, asking him to take the stage. Alam then raised the slogan, “Kashmir banega”. As the youth responded with cries of “Pakistan”, Alam shouted, “Jeevay, Jeevay Pakistan (long live Pakistan)”.
PTI had quoted Masarat Alam as telling mediapersons that he was not indulging in unlawful activities. “We are only promoting the aspirations of the people of Kashmir. Look at their enthusiasm,” he was quoted as saying.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police had filed a case against them under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for “provocative activities and hoisting of Pakistani flags”.
Geelani is known to organise anti-India rallies and events, and waving of Pakistani flags has become a routine at political events attended by him. The Hurriyat leader’s actions have put Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in a spot over and over again.
More – Syed Geelani stokes controversy, pays tributes to slain militants in Jammu and Kashmir
By not forming the government in spite of getting a mandate, BJP was “hijacking” the agenda of Kashmir-based separatists aimed at creating political instability in Jammu and Kashmir, Congress alleged on Sunday.”BJP is least interested in formation of government in the state, they just want to hijack the agenda of the Hurriyat Conference to create political uncertainties and instability in Jammu and Kashmir,” senior Congress leader Sham Lal Sharma said. He was addressing youth workers of the party in Akhnoor.”People voted for a change, let them now judge how their mandate is being humiliated. Despite having the requisite numbers they failed to form a government which resulted in the imposition of the Governor’s rule in the state,” Sharma said. Sharma said that BJP has compromised with the sentiments and aspirations of the people of the Jammu region.While alleging that Jammu has been denied its due right by the Kashmir-centric politicians, he said,”Jammu will no more play second fiddle to Kashmir and our party is determined to bring a separate regional development council for Jammu and we must struggle for it together,” he said. Sharma said that the youth of the county, especially of the Jammu region, had no other option but to leave their house to search for better employment opportunities outside the state.”This is a serious concern as the youth is forced to leave their house and old parents to seek for job opportunities outside the state, the youth needs to have better employment opportunities in the Jammu region,” he said.Sharma urged the Union government to launch a special army recruitment drive in the border areas of Jammu region so that the youth from those areas get an opportunity to serve the country.