India fighting a losing battle in Kashmir: Geelani

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Thursday said India was fighting a losing battle in Kashmir while the azadi sentiment among youth kept  growing stronger by the day despite “arrests and killings.”In a statement issued Geelani said that India was not sincere in talks and New Delhi was using “dialogue as a dilly dallying tactic.” “A solid proof of this is the continued detention of political leaders and activists. In fact, the government has launched a fresh wave of arrests on the pretext of so-called summer unrest this year,” he said.Geelani alleged that Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, Ghulaam Nabi Sumji, Masrat Alam Bhat , Peer Saifullah, ‘General’ Mussa, Mohammad Yousuf Falahi, Mir Hafizullah, Sanaullah Mir, Asiya Andrabi, Fehmeeda Sofi and other pro-freedom leaders were being detained in inhumane conditions. “They are being denied proper medical care despite their  deteriorating health,” he said. “Promises made  regarding the release of political prisoners have met the same fate as the false promises made by New Delhi to Kashmiris regarding  right to self determination,” he said. Geelani said the release of political prisoners was among the eight recommendations made by Indian Home Minister, P Chidambaram, after the Hurriyat (G) put forth its five-point proposal.Even the three interlocutors— Dileep Padgaonkar, Radha Kumar, MM Ansari— had, in several press conferences, repeatedly mentioned the release of political prisoners, Geelani added.Demanding immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, Geelani urged Amnesty International, International Red Cross and other rights bodies to use their influence in the matter.