Kasmir: Hurriyat calls for shutdown on June 25
Yatra threat aimed at creating sense of terror among people: Geelani
‘Black laws used to curb freedom-struggle’
FAZIL QAYOOM
Srinagar, Jun 20: (GNS) All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani has called for a complete shutdown on June 25 against the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. He also ruled out that there is any kind of threat to yatris and said the rumour is aimed at to malign and discredit the ongoing freedom struggle.
According to Global News Service, Geelani while addressing a press conference here at his Hyderpora residence today said that since last 150 years, the Amarnath Yatra is being conducted and during all this period the people of Jammu and Kashmir have treated yatris with the unique hospitality. “This is a unique example of hospitality and brotherhood from all over the world,” Geelani said, adding that the threat to yatris from Kashmiris can’t be even imagined.
Geelani said there are no such threats from any section of militants and it is the handiwork of forces and a deliberate attempt to create confusion and misconceptions. “Kashmiris are famous for their humble nature. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are not communal and have nothing to do with sectarian politics. This is a conspiracy to defame us at international level.”
The Hurriyat Chairman while referring to other states of India said there is limit on the number of pilgrims, but “why aren’t they limiting the number of yatris in Kashmir”. He said more than 16,000 yatris visit Amarnath daily which is more beyond the actual limit.
He said the motive behind all this and the so-called ‘Operation Shiva’ is to create a sense of fear and terror in the minds of people and to handover Yatra route to armed forces.
The veteran pro-freedom leader said the Indian Army under the garb of fake encounters like Chattisingpora, Alfaran and Machil had tried to give bade name to freedom struggle and continue to use such nefarious tactics to malign the freedom movement of Kashmiris.
Geelani, while recalling the statement of the then Home Minister P Chidambaram that “Kashmir problem is about broken promises” said that people of Kashmir are struggling for their right to self determination, but “India, on the other hand, is killing our youth under conspiracy.”
“They are talking of Jalianwalla Bagh massacre but in Kashmir there are thousands of Jalianwalla Bagh massacres taking place. Now India is trying to keep away our youth from movement by luring them with schemes and scholarships,” he said.
He said India’s tall claims of being the biggest democracy has fallen flat as they are not even providing the pro-freedom leadership a political space. “There are curbs on our political activities. Instead, those who raise voice against injustice are lodged under Public Safety Act.”
“They hanged Afzal Guru just to satisfy the collective conscience of masses. They have no regard for their own law. Even distributing relief by pro-freedom leaders is not allowed by authorities.”
Geelani said the more India will use force and repressive measures against Kashmiris the more we will rise against it. “It is a natural outcome.”
“About 25 pro-freedom leaders have been given life imprisonment, 15,000 youth have been arrested since 2008 and 98 youth have been lodged under PSA in different Indian jails among which 3 died, this is the height of tyranny and injustice,” the Chairman said, adding that the life imprisonment for these leaders has been taken as imprisonment till death while as in other states it is not more than 14 years.
The Hurriyat Conference Chairman said just as AFSPA is misused, the PSA is also used to curb the ongoing freedom movement. “The authorities don’t honour law, they re-arrest the youth after courts release the prisoners”.
Geelani said more than 5 lakh Kashmiris have laid their lives for the right to self determination, and “we will continue our struggle peacefully till the goal is achieved.” (GNS)
