Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, May 25: Chairman hardline faction of Huriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, today termed the Interlocutors report on Jammu and Kashmir as an attempt to divert the attention of international community from Jammu and Kashmir issue.
Geelani said that his conglomerate’s stand on interlocutors has been vindicated adding that Kashmir issue can be solved only when right to self-determination is given to the people of the State. He rescheduled his strike call for May 29 and asked people to observe strike on May 30 against the Shopian incident of 2009 in which two women were found dead under mysterious circumstances in a river bed.
“There is nothing in the report submitted by the team of Interlocutors. From day one we opposed the appointment of interlocutors and their report clearly indicated that Interlocution was just a time buying exercise. Relief can be provided to people only when the UN resolutions are implemented in letter and spirit,” said Geelani while addressing a press conference here at his residence.
Geelani said that his faction of Hurriyat Conference was not expecting any miracles from the report. He said the interlocutors were also given the mandate of diluting the importance of street protests that erupted in Kashmir Valley in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
“After the street protests for three consecutive years New Delhi tried its best to mislead the international community that everything is rosy in Kashmir. The appointment of Interlocutors was a part of this exercise and their report is in on expected lines. Kashmiris would get relief only when meaningful exercise is taken for resolving the Kashmir issue,” said Geelani.
Responding to a question about the Interlocutors’ observation that clock cannot be reversed, Geelani said that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi used the same words to National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. He said that Government of India should adopt a realistic and pragmatic approach towards the Jammu and Kashmir issue.
“I had given the call for strike against the Shopian incident on May 29, but as Mela Khir Bhawani is being celebrated on that day, the strike call has been rescheduled for May 30. I received calls from Kashmiri Pandits and they requested me to reschedule the strike. I appeal the people to observe complete strike since justice has been denied to Asiya and Neelofar, victims of Shopian tragedy,” said Geelani.
Geelani alleged that the Government is using all its might to crush the movement in Kashmir adding that Kashmiris cannot give up on their claim on right to self-determination. He accused the Government of being intolerant and said that he is being denied carrying out both the religious and political activities.
“If the Government thinks that people would forget about Kashmir issue with the construction of flyovers and roads then they are living in a fool’s paradise. The intolerance of the State Government can be gauged by the fact that we were not allowed to hold a religious programme on Thursday,” said Geelani.
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