Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 15: Police today registered a case against Hurriyat chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Masrat Alam Bhat and other leaders for provocative statements and hoisting Pakistani flags in a rally here.
Geelani today held his first public rally in Srinagar since 2010 after his arrival from New Delhi. His supporters waved Pakistani flags and chanted pro-Pakistan, pro-Azadi, pro-Hafiz Sayeed and pro-Salahudin slogans.
Geelani, who returned from Delhi after over three months, was given warm welcome by his supporters and leaders of Hurriyat including Masrat Alam Bhat. This was Bhat’s first appearance in a public rally since his release last month.
There were flags of Hurriyat and few supporters were also carrying Pakistani flags. Waving these flags they chanted pro-Pakistan and pro-Azadi slogans.
This was Geelani’s first public rally since 2010 summer agitation in Srinagar in which around 120 youth were killed in alleged police firing. The NC-Congress Coalition Government didn’t allow Geelani to address any rally and he was mostly kept under house arrest. But Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has allowed separatist to conduct rallies.
Police registered an FIR against Geelani, Masrat, Bashir Ahmad Bhat alias Peer Saifullah and other separatist leaders for provocative activities and hoisting Pakistani flag.
Police said some miscreants, who were part of the crowd organised by Geelani and others, also pelted stones on CRPF vehicles. However, security forces maintained restraint to safeguard the lives of people. Police registered FIR No 92/2015 under Sections 13 Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 120-B, 147,341,336,427 RPC in Police Station Budgam against Geelani and others and investigation into the matter has been taken up.
The Hurriyat Conference chairman in his address to the rally said that Kashmir is not a border dispute between India and Pakistan but the issue of one crore people of Jammu and Kashmir. “We will not accept status quo and our struggle to achieve right to self-determination will continue. We will not accept Shimla Agreement or Lahore Declaration,” he said.
Geelani welcomed migrant Pandits to the Valley, but said: “the people of Kashmir will not accept the division”. “Pandits are our brothers. They are welcome to return but they will have to live at their native places. Separate colonies are not acceptable to us. The Government has said they will give Rs 20 lakh to each Pandit family. We are telling them to provide the Pandits Rupees 30 lakh to built their houses, but only at their native places,” he said.
Hurriyat chairman said Muslims and Pandits have lived together for centuries and they want to live in peace and harmony. “Humanity should not be divided on the lines of religion, caste or creed. We will not accept any division,” he said.
Geelani said RSS wants to change the culture of the State and there is a need to aware the people about their designs. “We will soon organise a seminar to make people aware of the motives,” he said.
He demanded release of all political prisoners and repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Public Safety Act (PSA).
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