Greater Kashmir Reports Qaid-e- Inqilaab in Shopian Shopian, Nov 6: Hitting hard at mainstream parties of the State, Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Geelani Wednesday said Peoples Democratic Party and Peoples Conference are the offshoots of Congress while National Conference is patronized by the Central party right from 1938. “There are certain regional parties like PDP who hoodwink people by claiming to be representing the aspirations of Kashmiris but the reality is that they derive their origin from Congress and are equally responsible for strengthening occupation,” Geelani said addressing a gathering in Gole Chowk of this South Kashmir town. “PC, that claims to be striving for a change, too has its origin in Congress while NC has been patronized by the party right from 1938 when it split from Muslim Conference,” Geelani said. Geelani said that he does not have any personal animosity with any mainstream regional political party but since they ‘support occupation’ they are equally responsible for the people’s miseries. “It is you (mainstream leaders) who are heading the Unified Headquarters and under whose patronage armed forces commit human rights violations,” Geelani said. Asking people to stay away from upcoming polls, Geelani said, “It is an irony that the people who did not raise any voice when I was subjected to prolonged house detention from the year 2008, are now questioning why I have been released.” Geelani said, “One of the PDP leaders has appealed me not to carry poll boycott campaign as it would help NC. I ask him, is PDP a party of angels? This party has been equally responsible for grave rights violations. It was during the tenure of PDP that chastity of a mother- daughter duo was outraged by Army in Badrapayeen village in North Kashmir. The next day then Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayed, flanked by Home Minister of India, denied that rape has been committed on the daughter. I ask him where was his conscience then and why he did not leave his chair then.” He said that PDP Patron Mufti Muhammad Syed, as Home Minister in Centre, was instrumental in appointing Jagmohan as Governor of Jammu and Kashmir who then carried out massacre of Kashmiris including the killing of 22 innocent civilians in Kupwara during a protest demonstration led by Tehreek-i-Hurri yat leader Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai. “Mufti Muhammad Sayeed recently claimed that he will solve the Kashmir issue if he gets 40 seats and after few days he said that solution of Kashmir issue lies within the ambit of Indian Constitution,” said Geelani. He said the fact remains that all mainstream parties want status quo to prevail. “I appeal all the people not to fall prey to the petty politics of pro-India parties whether it is NC, PDP, Congress, CPI (M) or third front and stay away from all the polls being held under Indian Constitution,” said Geelani. He said that the hands of these parties are ‘drenched in blood.’ “Those who can’t protect our lives, property, resources and most importantly the chastity of our daughters have no right to seek votes,” said Geelani as the people in the gathering raised hands pledging not to vote. Geelani appealed people to carry forward his message of staying away from polls and run door to door boycott campaign. “The youth are the torch bearers of this nation and you have to carry the message of poll boycott to people’s doorsteps not by using stick or pelting stones but on moral grounds or through your deeds,” Geelani appealed. He said though elections don’t change the disputed nature of JK but New Delhi was using them to hoodwink the international community. “In 2012, the Prime Minister of India during his August 15 speech claimed that huge turnout in Panchayat elections was a mandate in favor of democracy. So we should remain vigilant and not give them any chance to defame our movement,” Geelani said. “They are adopting a strategy of fielding many candidates and even four family members of a single family contest the polls against each other which is to ensure high turnout. But the fact remains that we too have our weaknesses and are helping them in one way or other,” said Geelani. Geelani appealed the youth to remain resilient and steadfast in their approach. “I assure you that the dawn of freedom is not far away but the condition is that you have to remain disciplined as it is the key to success,” said Geelani. He said that people have rendered tremendous sacrifices and the need was to safeguard them. “In 1947 in Jammu region, 5 lakh Muslims were massacred and now during past 22 years of armed conflict, we lost 1 lakh more people, 10,000 people were subjected to enforced disappearances, 7500 unmarked graves have been discovered while the chastity of our mothers and sisters from Kunan-Poshpora and Shopian have been outraged. Now we have to exhibit steadfastness and not let them go waste.” He said that Kashmir was not a border dispute between India and Pakistan and it has to solved in its historical perspective and keeping in view the aspirations of the people. “Any other solution which is thrust on us won’t be acceptable to us. The solution of Kashmir lies in right to self determination.” He said that Indian stand that Kashmir was its integral part was ‘based on deceit and military might’ while Kashmiris’ struggle was based on principles. “New Delhi with the help of pro- Indian regional parties exploits our resources including water, forests. While we are in darkness our power is being used by people from outside State. Thousands of kanals of land is under occupation of Army,” he said. Stressing on Shia-Sunni unity, Geelani paid tributes to Imam Hussain (AS) and Imam Hassan (AS) and Karbala martyrs. “Today is Muharram and I appeal entire Muslim Ummah including Kashmiri Muslims to exhibit unity and foil all attempts of those evil elements who want to sow seeds of discord between us.” Geelani condemned the arrest of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leaders including District President Hurriyat , Shopian, Muhammad Yousuf Falahi; Muhammad Shaban; Hafizullah Mir and Hamza. Geelani was flanked by secretary public relations Altaf Ahmad Shah spokesperson Hurriyat , Ayaz Akbar; Tehreek-e-Hurriyat General Secretary Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai; Hurriyat (G) General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Sumji and senior leader Peer Saifullah. Shakeel Ahangar, brother of Asiya and husband of Neelofar, the two girls allegedly raped and murdered by men in uniform in 2009, shared the stage with Geelani. Earlier, Geelani was given rousing reception as he reached Shopian. People including women showered petals and sweets on him as his cavalcade reached the town via Pulwama route. Though the situation remained peaceful but as Geelani left the town, stone pelting was reported from certain areas. Youth pelted stones on Deputy Commissioner (DC) office and police retaliated by lobbing tear gas shells, reports said.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 02:38:06 +0000
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