SRINAGAR: Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference (Geelani) Syed Ali Shah Geelani ruled out immediate unification among the separatist camp, saying that their parties’ “don’t like unity”, adding that the Indian government is using illegal ways to prolong its rule in Jammu Kashmir “I have practical experience if leaders want to sit together, but our parties don’t like it,” he said, addressing a seminar titled “conspiracy of settling non-state subjects (in Jammu and Kashmir)” at his Hyderpora residence here.
Geelani said leaders in his presence uttered that they cannot talk about religion in meetings, saying non-Muslims are also living in the state. “But these people don’t know that Islam gives such a position to non-Muslims which no other system has provided till date. Who were the people who made my presence difficult at Eidgah rally (2008). Had not youth shouldered me, I would have lost my life on that day,” he said.
“I am often being targeted by different quarters for being against unity among the pro-freedom camp. But I am not against it. I want it in accordance with Islamic teachings,” he said. Lashing out at mainstream parties, Geelani said, their common goal is to grab power and “it hardly matters for us who will be in the power”.
“During 2008 elections people voted at some places to topple National Conference, but at some to defeat People Democratic Party. Whether it is NC, PDP, Congress, Communists or others all have given legitimacy to New Delhi’s rule in Kashmir. There will be no change in ground situation by shifting of power from one party to another,” he said.
“By voting in Panchayat elections recently, we wasted the sacrifices rendered by us in 2010 and we did same in 2008. People come on streets to render sacrifices, but didn’t stay at their homes to boycott elections to safeguard these,” he said. Geelani said, only aim of framing new legislation, granting proprietary rights to slum dwellers, was “to change demography of Jammu and Kashmir.”
“They introduced bill here and they know that they will discuss it in Jammu as there is favorable atmosphere for it,” he said.
Reacting to the State Government claims that bill is only envisaged for state subjects, Geelani said, “There was no need of framing new law for providing land to deserved Hindus, Sikhs or Muslim state subjects as deputy commissioner can do it by simple order,” he said , adding that Kashmiris have to defend themselves against demographic engineering.
Terming demographic engineering brainchild of Rashtriya Sewmak Sangh, Geelani said, “The day is not far away when our places would be called as Bihari Chowk , Rajasthani Chowk, UP Chowk.” Geelani also made an appeal to media not to call them as separatists. “We are freedom fighters not separatists. We are not fighting for separation, but for freedom our nation,” he said, adding, “I don’t have any enmity with media, but they should support oppressed people.” Ghulam Nabi Sumjhi Senior Hurriyat (G) leader Ghulam Nabi Sumjhi also called for convergence of efforts by masses for taking movement to its logical conclusion.
“People in Telangana are demanding a separate state in one voice and even Congress lawmakers are supporting it,” he said. Among others, noted columnist Z G Muhammad, Kashmir University Law department professor Dr Shiekh Showkat Hussain, Dr Javaid Iqbal, Abdul Majid Zargar, Anwar Ashai and Peoples Freedom League leader Rafiq Ganai also spoke on the occasion.
The seminar was moderated by Hurriyat (G) spokesman Ayaz Akbar.