Geelani peace pipe may turn the tide
In a press conference at his residence, the hardline Hurriyat leader said: “Resorting to violence and attacking police stations, government buildings and railway stations are against the basic principles of our movement, which is peaceful. Rather than helping, the violence is damaging our cause. We are the victims of the suppression of Government of India and J&K government.”
The Hurriyat leader stated that with violence Kashmiris should not project themselves as suppressors. “I can understand that violent protests are the reaction against Indian suppression and killings of Kashmiris by forces. But we have to control our emotions and remain peaceful,” he said.
Geelani viewed that with violent protests Kashmiris were at the receiving end. “Our own people are getting killed in police firing. We have lost 40 persons during these days and our cause gets damaged.
The people must continue peaceful protests and stage protest sit-in wherever they are stopped by police and forces from holding demonstrations. Rather than pelting stones at the men in uniform, we must tell them to open fire on us if they want to kill us,” he said.
The Hurriyat leader lashed out at the state government and Centre for denying political space to separatists by disallowing them to carry out peaceful activities. “When the government closes peaceful options by arresting us and dispersing our peaceful protests with force, the youth resort to violent protests,” he said.
Geelani’s appeal is expected to help cool tempers and give a peaceful direction to the ongoing protests. “Geelani tells us to be peaceful. But if the government does not allow us to hold protests peacefully against the atrocities being committed upon us, how can the peace be restored,” said Mohammad Abdullah, a protester.
After Geelani’s press conference, a youth, Iqbal Ahmad Khan, who was injured in police firing in Srinagar on Friday, succumbed to his injuries in hospital. Muhstaq Ahmad, a police officer, described Geelani’s appeal as a step in the right direction. “We should not expect results from the appeal overnight but surely it is a welcome step,” he said.
Meanwhile, curfew remained in force in entire Kashmir for the sixth consecutive day on Wednesday. Barring some incidents of burning of government vehicles the situation remained peaceful. Thousands of people violated curfew in south Kashmir and took out a massive match from Pulwama.