news details |
|
|
| Geelani dumped by friends, foes | | Separatists unmoved over hawk’s resignation | | Early Times Report
Jammu, July 2: Stoic silence maintained by the separatists over Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Geelani bidding adieu to Hurriyat Conference indicates that the hardliner has been dumped even by his friends.
Hurriyat dove, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who had joined hands with Geelani along with so-called JKLF Chief Yasin Malik post Burhan Wani’s killing in 2016 is also watching the situation with his lips sealed. He didn’t even issue a single press statement over Geelani’s resignation. “Geelani who once used to be considered as a poster man for the separatist politics in Kashmir all of the sudden left Hurriyat Conference. Why his ilk including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is silent on such an important development. Why is he not even expressing his opinion on the matter?,” questioned one scribe based in Srinagar.
He added that there was a norm within the separatist ranks that no opportunity should be missed to hog the headlines. This is for the first time, that they have gone silent so dreadfully.
Furthermore, even mainstream politicians including the very erratic Omar Abdullah didn’t utter a word on the issue, preferring not to stir hornet’s nest amid the prevalent situation.
On June 29, in a 2-page letter and shot audio message Geelani announced his resignation from Hurriyat Conference. "Keeping in view the present situation in Hurriyat Conference, I announce my decision to part ways with it," he said, accusing members of the grouping of conspiring against him and saying it lacked discipline and accountability.
Addressing those leaders, Geelani said in the letter: "After August 5, the leaders who were not arrested were expected to lead the people, give them hope. Despite my house detention and government's curbs, I searched hard for you, but you were not available. I couldn't do much because of my health and detention."
Hurriyat Conference was formed in 1993 by various separatist groups in Kashmir. But the group split in 2003 when a faction headed by Geelani, who advocated Kashmir's merger with Pakistan, walked out after another group decided to hold talks with New Delhi and formed their own faction. With the split, Geelani was elected chairman for life for his faction of the Hurriyat, made up of more than 24 constituent parties, some of which have only a handful of members.
With Geelani’s resignation, a new debate has been generated about whether the current scenario has hinted at the end of separatist politics in Kashmir for times to come. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
