Geelani takes on IGP Kashmir

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Friday denounced IGP Kashmir, S M Sahai’s statement that nobody would be allowed to carry out anti-national activities as a “crude joke,” asking the top cop to choose his words carefully while commenting on the law and order situation in Kashmir.
“He (Sahai) should understand that Kashmir in not Uttar Pradesh where he can talk about the law and order situation in the language of a policeman. Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory, where Sahai has been posted out of his luck or bad luck. There is a history to Jammu and Kashmir, according to which India has no legal or moral right over this region,” he said.
“If by nation he means the Indian state , then opposition is  our democratic, moral and human right because India has forcefully enslaved our people and there is no justification for its military occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. But if he is referring to Kashmir, then we cannot be against this nation, because we are a part of it and are striving for its freedom, development and prosperity,” Geelani said in a statement issued.
“Not only India and Pakistan but the entire international community has recognized Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory. Kashmiris have not reconciled to India’s military occupation and have been struggling for freedom right from 1947. When India’s ten lakh strong army couldn’t suppress the freedom movement of Kashmiris how can a police officer make this impossible thing possible? The concerned police officer’s statement is not surprising though since the nature of his job is such that he has to threaten people in order to remain in the good books of his higher ups,” he said.
Geelani said the restrictions imposed on him and the “undeclared curfew” in Shopian had vindicated his stand that Kashmir was being run by the Indian Home Ministry. “The state rulers should also realize this fact and issue statements within their ambit which is to oversee construction of roads, bridges, etc,” he said.
Geelani also condemned the re-imposing of Public Safety Act on Hurriyat (G) leader and Tehreek Hurriyat General Secretary, Mohammad Ahsraf Sahrai, terming it as the “worst kind of state terrorism.”