Geelani has no stature before me: Farooq

Srinagar: Days after he was dared by the Chairman of Hurriyat Conference(G), Syed Ali Shah Geelani, to address a public gathering at Lal Chowk, Minister for Renewable Energy in UPA-II and National Conference president, Dr Farooq Abduallah Saturday hit back saying he was not interested in the challenge as Geelani had no stature in front of him.
“Who is Geelani? What is his status? I don’t give a damn to his threats?” an angry Abdullah said when asked on Geelani statement on the sidelines of a function at Science College, Jammu.
Press Bureau of India correspondent from Jammu said that Abdullah, who laid foundation stone for a dressing room at the college’s cricket ground, while castigating Geelani for his demand of Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan said, “ If Geelani is interested in going to Pakistan he is free to do so, but the state is going nowhere, it’s an integral part of India and shall continue to remain so.”
Abdullah also rejected the demand for plebiscite in the state and said those demanding plebiscite “should first ask it in Pakistan occupied Kashmir.” He said the teenagers demanding ‘Azadi’ didn’t know what it meant.
In response to a query on the Bihar hostage crisis, Abdullah called Naxals as “Khatmals” (mosquitoes) and advised chief minister Nitesh Kumar not to give in to their demands. “The nation has paid a price twice for the same mistake. First when we released terrorists (in Kashmir) during VP Singh’s government and then during the Kandahar episode. We must act stron, , otherwise the terrorists would continue to dictate. Either you fight them and fight them hard, otherwise you will appear to be a soft state,” Abdullah said .
On reports about Chinese presence in Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PaK), Abdullah said India is not week and can face the Chinese challenge.
Referring to the ongoing unrest in Valley, Abdullah said he was sad over the killings, but felt the police and CRPF were not properly trained to handle such situation.