Geelani quits Hurriyat

 

Nasir Azam

Srinagar, June 29: Senior separatist leader and the chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Monday announced to part ways from the “Hurriyat Forum” citing present prevailing situation the

In an audio message Geelani said: “Keeping in view the present situation in Hurriyat Conference, I announce to part ways from the Hurriyat forum. The decision has been conveyed to all the constituents of Hurriyat through official letters.”

In his detailed letter to the members of the Hurriyat Conference, Geelani has said that henceforth he shall not be answerable in any manner about the future conduct of the constituent members of the platform.

Hurriyat Conference was formed on March 9, 1993 as a united political platform of the separatist parties in Kashmir. Ten years after its formation, the Hurriyat Conference split into the moderate group headed by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and the hardline group headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

Not keeping good health, Geelani has mostly remained under house arrest in his Srinagar’s Hyderpora area for the past over eight years. Before that also authorities used to detain him on and off under house arrest to maintain law and order in Kashmir. In a separate statement issued by Geelani, he accused some people of luring Kashmiri youth to drugs and promoting narco-trade and changing the discourse of Kashmir movement.

Interestingly, Geelani tweet that “this was a movement of our faith and freedom. Unfortunately some people sitting across LoC steered our youth to abyss of drugs. Our drugged youth generation has lost senses. Instead of Kashmir’s freedom movement, this is now a struggle of Pakistan’s interest and drugs.”

Geelani’s surprising move has triggered a storm in political circles and also on the social media with BJP cashing in on the development terming as a victory of Government of India and the direct outcome of roll back of Article 370—(KNO)

 

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