Riyaz ul Khaliq
SRINAGAR
Chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani Firday said that Bharatiya Janta Party’s (BJP) Prime Ministerial Candidate, Narendra Modi has sent his people to various pro freedom leaders including him who, Geelani said, tried him to get ‘commitment from Modi viz-a-viz Kashmir issue’.
Addressing a press conference at his Hyderpora residence-cum-office, Geelani said, “Two people came to meet me on March 22 and asked me to talk to Narendra Modi to get his commitment on Kashmir issue but I rejected their proposal telling them that Modi is an RSS man and we know his party’s policy about Kashmir.”
Geelani said, “Those who have said that Modi’s policy after he becomes PM regarding Kashmir would be soft and those who have expectations from him have actually met Modi’s men in Kashmir.”
Pertinently, Hurriyat (M) chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in a statement had said that his amalgam is hopeful of Modi regarding Kashmir issue. Joining the fray, Jamaat-e-Islami Amir, Muhammad Abdullah Wani in an interview to a local daily had said that Narendra Modi would be soft on Kashmir once he becomes PM.
Taking a dig on unionist parties of Kashmir, Geelani said that they have been the main hurdle in resolving the Kashmir issue. “The pro India parties are the ones who are actually justifying the India’s occupation of Jammu and Kashmir.”
He said that as people have right to fight elections in the same way they have a right to boycott them as well. “Boycotting elections is too a right.”
Geelani said that since last 66 years India has been holding elections in Jammu and Kashmir on gun point. “Those who say that gun is no solution don’t know that India actually is occupying Kashmir on gun point,” he said.
Geelani said that it is his responsibility to make people aware about India’s designs in Kashmir. “It is our responsibility to make people know the falsehood of India in Kashmir,” he said, adding, “India is actually exploiting the voting process in its favour saying that Kashmiris are with her using vote process.”
He said that separatists that are campaigning for boycott are being arrested, suppressed and detained. “It is actually army running the election affairs in Kashmir. We have reports that army camps in Pulwama district are terrorizing people to vote and have arrested youth in this connection.” “The pro India parties who claim that there is no bar on boycott campaigns are lying. It is actually a police state.”
Geelani said that the government has put him under house arrest and is not allowing to carry out activities. “I have been put under house arrest and out leaders and activists are detained and harassed across valley.”
“We appeal people to observe complete shutdown on April 21 against this policy of authorities.”
Appealing people to boycott upcoming elections, he said, elections are army operations in Kashmir. “In presence of seven lakh army men no genuine election can be held. Civil curfew would be in areas where polling shall be held on April 24, 30 and May 07. While people are appealed to protest between Maghrib and Isha prayers a day before polling in their respective areas to make boycott a success.”
He said that till Right to Self Determination is not granted to Kashmiris, no peace shall prevail in the sub continent.
He lashed out pro India parties saying that they all are for same work in helping India in Kashmir though they have different names. “NC, PDP, PC, Congress, AIP are same and no one among them is a lesser evil.”
Asking state government not to extend lease of Tosa Maidan to army that is ending today, Geelani said, “The Tosa Maidan lease that is ending today should not be extended and demand of army for alternative place should be rejected,” he said and added that his party had in 2008 said that 28 lakh kanals of land is under illegal occupation of army.
“In Shopian, army has been given 5000 kanals of land and 3-4 lakh forest trees are being cut. In Bijbehara, many localities are being evacuated for army that is going to construct a cantonment there but when reports came before public, army said that it had bought that chunk of land in 1980,” Geelani said and made Shaikh Muhammad Abdullah responsible for the sell out of the land.
He added that army has occupied Eid Gah in Sangrama area and kanals of land in Dooru. “We will have no graveyard for us if it goes on like this.”
Rejecting Article 370 poll gimmick, Geelani said, “Article 370 has no value in our movement and what is there left in it now that people should vote for its safeguard.”
