Ubeer Naqushbandi/Riyaz Bhat
SRINAGAR
Following the call of Hurriyat patriarch, Syed Ali Geelani, protests at various places were held against the arrest of Prof SAR Geelani across Kashmir.
Prof Geelani, who earlier taught at University of Delhi, was arrest some days ago on sedition charges. He had spoken at an event in Press Club of India in union capital commemorating the third death anniversary of Afzal Guru.
A similar event in Jawahar Lal Nehru in Delhi resulted in a big controversy which witnessed arrest of JNUSU president, Kanhaiya Kumar.
Various separatist leaders held a protest demonstration in press enclave here against harassment of Kashmiri students and the sedition charges against Prof SAR Geelani in JNU.
All Parties Hurriyat Conference (g) chairperson, Syed Ali Geelani, called for “solidarity protests in Kashmir” with the Kashmiri students in Delhi and against th detention of Prof Geelani and Kanhaiya Kumar.
Led by Bilal Ah Sidique, a Hurriyat Conference (g) leader, the protestors said, “India is trying to muzzle the voice of every minority.”
Zamrooda Habib, chairperson of Muslim Khawatein Markaz, a Hurriyat Conference (g) constituent, raised vociferous protest against the detention of Prof SAR Geelani on sedition charges in Delhi.
Taking at dig at New Delhi Zamrooda said, “time and again New Delhi is intimidating Kashmiris by harassing them in one or other way. We are not going to tolerate this and Delhi should realize ground realities in Kashmir.”
Raising slogans: “SAR Geelani ko reha karo”, “Kanhaya Kumar ko reha karo”, “BJP sun le Azadi”, “Bharat se lain gay Azadi”, protestors tried to march towards city centre where posse of cops prevented them from advancing. They were taken to Kothibagh police station.
Lashing out at, Union HRD minister and senior BJP member, Smriti Irani, another Hurriyat leader, Zamrooda Habib said, “Ms Simriti Irani is an actress and a drama queen and she knows how to articulate the situation.”
“Booking students for sedition has no moral justification and if Prof Geelani and Kanhaiya Kumar and other students are not released soon, whole Kashmir will come on streets and will start protests.”
Reports reaching said that Democratic Political Movement (DPM), a constituent of Hurriyat (g) held a protest to express solidarity with Kashmiri students studying outside State.
Scores of protesters carrying placards and banners seeking safety for Kashmiri students assembled outside Haji Masjid Maisuma shortly after the Friday congregational prayers.
Protest was also carried out at Illahibagh’s 90 feet area where Hurriyat Conference (JK) leaders said, “in Indian democracy neither freedom of expression nor freedom of speech is allowed.”
Terming the detention of Prof SAR Geelani, Kanhaiya Kumar and crackdown on JNU students as “undemocratic and uncalled for”, they said, “by this act the secular and democratic claims of India stand exposed.”
Meanwhile, one of the Hurriyat Conference (g) activists said that protest rallies were held in Budgam, Hajin, Islamabad and other areas of Kashmir.
A similar protests demonstration was carried out at Amira Kadal. However, police swung in to action and bundled Hurriyat activists in police vans.
