SRINAGAR: Terming Kashmir as ‘crown of India’, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Thursday hit out at Syed Ali Geelani and claimed that his ancestors had come to Kashmir after being forced out of their homes in Central Asia.
“After coming here (in Kashmir from Geelan in Iran), you (Geelani) wanted to disintegrate India into pieces (by engineering separatism and terrorism in J&K). He had come from Geelan (Iran). He was a Geelan national (not Kashmiri),” newspaper Daily Excelsior quoted Khan as having said.
The Kerala Governor said that he (his ancestors) escaped from Geelan to save his life (their lives). “Your name says that you have come from outside into India”, he said and questioned why he was forced to come here and leave his home.
Khan said that nobody leaves his home unless there is threat to his life.
He said that they (Syed Ali Geelani and their people) escaped from their homes (from their country) to save their lives. “Please tell me what relation he (Geelani) has with Srinagar (Kashmir)?, he questioned.
Khan said that Jammu and Kashmir is the crown of India. Asserting that nobody can disintegrate it from India, he said that India too is not a piece of land but a strong thought, which cannot be disintegrated.
Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan –Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas aur Sabka Vishwas as a vibrant mantra, he said that to ensure development, there is need to arm everyone with knowledge.
Quoting Swami Vivekananda – So long as the millions live in hunger and ignorance, I hold every man a traitor who, having been educated at their expense, pays not the least heed to them, Khan impressed upon imparting knowledge to everyone to ensure overall development, reported Daily Excelsior.
