Srinagar, Mar 11: Veteran pro-freedom leader and chairman of Hurriyat (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani has achieved an iconic status for his unflinching and uncompromising stand on Kashmir. Reflective of this gritty determination is Geelani’s diplomacy in New Delhi, where he is being treated for kidney ailment. Though weakened by a string of surgeries and a long treatment, the popular pro-freedom leader is continuing his struggle by word of mouth.
In an exclusive interview with Greater Kashmir by phone, Geelani said he has been removing “serious misconceptions in the minds of Indians” about Kashmir dispute.
Putting up in Malviya Nagar area for the past two months, Geelani says he has been interacting with people from diverse fields, and he faces volley of questions about Kashmir each time he strolls on busy streets of New Delhi or while traveling for medical check to leading hospital like Apollo and Escorts.
“I was surprised to learn that most of people in New Delhi were unaware of the plight of Kashmiris. They think Kashmiris are terrorists and fighting against Indian rule without any rhyme and reason,” Geelani said. “A senior doctor in Delhi’s leading hospital was in tears when I told him about the Kashmir dispute and the suffering of Kashmiris at the hands of Indian security agencies. I told him under India’s so-called democratic system troops violated the chastity of hundreds of Kashmir girls and killed thousands of youth in the past two decades. He was shocked and he plugged his ears with his fingers.” Geelani said while going for morning walk in a local park, a group of elderly people warmly greeted him. “Are you Mr Geelani the hardliner separatist? We have seen you on TV?” “I categorically told them I am not a hardliner but a Kashmiri fighting for the right of self-determination which has been denied by their Country.” Geelani said the group wanted to know about the Kashmir dispute. He told them about the UN resolutions on Kashmir and Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru’s promise to resolve Kashmir dispute according to aspirations of Kashmiris. “I told them Kashmiris are peace loving people. In fact they had even participated in election in 1987 mainly for resolution of the long-standing dispute. But when they started to emerge victorious, the Government of India through its stooges rigged the results and pushed hundreds of Kashmiris behind bars. They took up arms against the discrimination, deceit and denial of their birth right,” Geelani said.
“The group told me that they had never heard this side of Kashmir dispute. I invited them to Kashmir and told them you should have courage to hear the reality and suffering of Kashmiris. But I cautioned them not to forget their identity cards otherwise they wouldn’t escape wrath of the troop,” said Geelani.
On hearing this, Geelani said the group was a bit surprised. “I told them how would you feel if an outsider checks your identity card in your own city? Kashmiris feel humiliated when a trooper from Bihar asks for his identity. They have killed many innocent Kashmiris merely for not carrying their identity cards. The troopers have been literally licensed under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act to kill. They don’t let people even to stage peaceful protests and open fire on unarmed protesters.” “Many people understood the similarities between India’s resistance movement against British rule and Kashmir dispute. I have invited them to Kashmir and make on-the-spot assessment of the situation,” he said. Geelani believes when Kashmir was on boil over the killing in Sopur and Nowhatta, media in New Delhi has downplayed the situation. “It is surprising that media here broadcasts live functions of politicians, films stars and neglects the bloodshed at the hands of troopers in the Valley. I don’t blame Delhities or people of other states for misinformation about Kashmir. They know what the media feeds them and it is part of Government of India’s anti-Kashmir campaign.”
Geelani said he is being watched round the clock by Indian security agencies, but “I don’t care as I know I am supporting a just cause.”
“Now I have got a handful of supporters in New Delhi,” Geelani (laughing) said, “Truth will one day prevail upon the World. Sacrifices of Kashmiris will not go waste.”
In an exclusive interview with Greater Kashmir by phone, Geelani said he has been removing “serious misconceptions in the minds of Indians” about Kashmir dispute.
Putting up in Malviya Nagar area for the past two months, Geelani says he has been interacting with people from diverse fields, and he faces volley of questions about Kashmir each time he strolls on busy streets of New Delhi or while traveling for medical check to leading hospital like Apollo and Escorts.
“I was surprised to learn that most of people in New Delhi were unaware of the plight of Kashmiris. They think Kashmiris are terrorists and fighting against Indian rule without any rhyme and reason,” Geelani said. “A senior doctor in Delhi’s leading hospital was in tears when I told him about the Kashmir dispute and the suffering of Kashmiris at the hands of Indian security agencies. I told him under India’s so-called democratic system troops violated the chastity of hundreds of Kashmir girls and killed thousands of youth in the past two decades. He was shocked and he plugged his ears with his fingers.” Geelani said while going for morning walk in a local park, a group of elderly people warmly greeted him. “Are you Mr Geelani the hardliner separatist? We have seen you on TV?” “I categorically told them I am not a hardliner but a Kashmiri fighting for the right of self-determination which has been denied by their Country.” Geelani said the group wanted to know about the Kashmir dispute. He told them about the UN resolutions on Kashmir and Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru’s promise to resolve Kashmir dispute according to aspirations of Kashmiris. “I told them Kashmiris are peace loving people. In fact they had even participated in election in 1987 mainly for resolution of the long-standing dispute. But when they started to emerge victorious, the Government of India through its stooges rigged the results and pushed hundreds of Kashmiris behind bars. They took up arms against the discrimination, deceit and denial of their birth right,” Geelani said.
“The group told me that they had never heard this side of Kashmir dispute. I invited them to Kashmir and told them you should have courage to hear the reality and suffering of Kashmiris. But I cautioned them not to forget their identity cards otherwise they wouldn’t escape wrath of the troop,” said Geelani.
On hearing this, Geelani said the group was a bit surprised. “I told them how would you feel if an outsider checks your identity card in your own city? Kashmiris feel humiliated when a trooper from Bihar asks for his identity. They have killed many innocent Kashmiris merely for not carrying their identity cards. The troopers have been literally licensed under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act to kill. They don’t let people even to stage peaceful protests and open fire on unarmed protesters.” “Many people understood the similarities between India’s resistance movement against British rule and Kashmir dispute. I have invited them to Kashmir and make on-the-spot assessment of the situation,” he said. Geelani believes when Kashmir was on boil over the killing in Sopur and Nowhatta, media in New Delhi has downplayed the situation. “It is surprising that media here broadcasts live functions of politicians, films stars and neglects the bloodshed at the hands of troopers in the Valley. I don’t blame Delhities or people of other states for misinformation about Kashmir. They know what the media feeds them and it is part of Government of India’s anti-Kashmir campaign.”
Geelani said he is being watched round the clock by Indian security agencies, but “I don’t care as I know I am supporting a just cause.”
“Now I have got a handful of supporters in New Delhi,” Geelani (laughing) said, “Truth will one day prevail upon the World. Sacrifices of Kashmiris will not go waste.”
[KashmirWatch.Com ]
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