Hard-line separatist Syed Ali Geelani tore into the Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday and accused the RSS of plotting against the Valley as hundreds of supporters waved Pakistani flags and raised pro-Islamabad slogans in Srinagar.
The chairman of the hard-line Hurriyat faction said the Centre’s plan of composite townships for Kashmiri Pandits was unacceptable, with his speech simultaneously broadcast in Islamabad and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir capital Muzaffarabad.
“The grim fact (of the country) remains that those who have Muslims’ blood on their hands are being elected as prime minister and ministers in New Delhi,” the 84-year-old leader told cheering supporters.
Geelani was returning from Delhi after four months but authorities didn’t detain the separatist or place him under house arrest, breaking from past practice.
Instead, security forces allowed his supporters to receive him in a cavalcade from the airport to his residence, covering almost a 2-km stretch.
The procession saw several slogans pitched by Geelani’s confidante and Muslim League chief Masarat Alam, whose release drove a wedge between alliance partners Peoples Democratic Party and the BJP in March.
“This government intends to strengthen status quo in Jammu and Kashmir. We will break the status quo and fight against illegal occupation. Our struggle will continue till implementation of United Nations resolutions on the state,” said Geelani.
He also called for a protest march towards Tral in south Kashmir, where the brother of a Hizbul Mujahideen commander was killed in an army operation two days ago.
Chief minister Mufti Mohammad has called the incident “unfortunate” and asked the army to be more cautious in the future.
“We will make the people of Kashmir aware about Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s designs on Kashmir. Pandit townships, also an RSS game plan, are unacceptable to us.
Let the government pay them (displaced Pandits) Rs 30 lakh per family instead of Rs 20 lakh but they should return to their older localities only,” he added.
The speech was broadcast over radio in Pakistan and PoK.
“Our representatives and people of Jammu and Kashmir living there participated in these two gatherings held in Islamabad and Muzaffarabad. Geelani’s speech was broadcast to them live,” Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar told HT.
Experts have said the hard-line faction of the Hurriyat Conference has gained in strength in recent months with several parties, who were members of the moderate Hurriyat, lining up to join under Geelani’s leadership.
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