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| Geelani asks Kashmiris to get up for total demilitarisation | | Valley divided over Govt’s decision to refer Shopian probe to CBI | |
Ahmed Ali Fayyaz
SRINAGAR, Sep 10: Even as sponsor of the three-month-long agitation, Majlis-e-Mushawarat Shopian, has not disputed Government’s decision to refer inquiry into the mysterious death of two young women to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), senior separatist leader and Chairman of the radical faction of Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has alleged that it was simply an exercise to protect the criminals. After his release from three-month-long detention, Geelani has asked the Kashmiris to mobilize for total withdrawal of Indian armed forces from Jammu & Kashmir.
Notwithstanding opposition from the mainstream Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as the separatist Hurriyat Conference (Geelani) and High Court Bar Association, Majlis-e-Mushawarat Shopian has said that it was not concerned about which agency was investigating the rape-cum-murder of Neelofar Jan and Aasiya Jan on May 29th this year. Majlis spokesman, Mohammad Shafi Khan, has said in a statement today that the residents of Shopian were simply for severe punishment to the guilty. The investigating agency, according to him, would not matter.
On the basis of nearly a consensus between legislators of different political parties in Assembly---barring PDP---Government had yesterday referred the investigation of the alleged rape-cum-murder of the two young women to CBI through Department of Personnel and Trainings that functions under Prime Minister’s Office. Omar Abdullah’s Government has now got a shot in the arm in the tacit approval of Majlis-e-Mushawarat Shopian.
Chairman of the radical faction of Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, opposed the move at a press conference today and alleged that it was nothing but an exercise to protect the guilty. He referred to Chief Minister’s initial statement on the gruesome tragedy and claimed that Government’s intention was “bad” from the day one. He said that Jan Commission of Enquiry had cast aspersions on the two victims and their family members rather than identifying the guilty. As regards the detention of the four Police officials, Geelani said that they had all been lodged for VIP treatment at a Police guesthouse in Humhama.
President of High Court Bar Association, Mian Abdul Qayoom, expressed similar observations in a separate statement and added that CBI had forfeited its credibility by “protecting big guns” in the infamous Srinagar Sex Scandal and restricting its investigation to just 17 individuals.
At his maiden news conference after his release from nearly three-month-long detention at a Forest resthouse here, Geelani also asked the people of Kashmir to mobilize themselves for a greater agitation against “occupation” of the Indian armed forces. He said it was high time for total demilitarization of the state of Jammu & Kashmir. “It’s shocking that Army has been occupying every inch of our land. We need to get up against this occupation”, Geelani said and called for a concerted agitation for withdrawal of troops. He said that all units of the separatist amalgam were busy in preparation of records and the report would be thoroughly discussed at a Hurriyat meeting after the Eid.
He said that a concerted agitation was being proposed and planned and the people would be made aware of the programme in next couple of weeks.
Geelani lashed out at constituents of the coalition government---NC and Congress---and claimed that members and leaders of these pro-India political parties were “New Delhi’s agents”. According to him, they had been providing information to the Indian security forces regarding presence, movement and activities of the “pro-freedom” people and getting them harassed by the official agencies. “They here here only to protect New Delhi’s interests”, Geelani said about NC and Congress cadres.
After two years, Geelani also sounded bitterly critical of the “influx” of large number of non-J&K beggers, labours and other people and claimed that it was all part of New Delhi’s plan to colonise J&K on the pattern of the Jewish occupation of Palestine. He was later taken to Hyderpora Crossing in the form of a procession.
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