Kashmiris Have Not Rendered Sacrifices For Article 370 Or 35A: Geelani

Srinagar: Terming the statement of BJP leader and Union Minister Nitin Gadkaray as ridiculous and hypocritical, Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani lashed out at Indian leadership for lacking political vision and courage to accept the ground realities in Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement he said that creating a venomous and war like atmosphere on flimsy and baseless issues to lure the electorate and grab the political power is a curse and a part of filthy politics which has ruined the very ethics of democracy and moral values.

Quoting Gadkari, Hurriyat (G) chairman said that irrespective of absolute majority in the outgoing Parliament of India, the BJP leaders referred to the sensitive situation in Jammu and Kashmir as a main stumbling block in the way of abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A.

Terming these lame excuses as silly political postures of Indian leadership, the veteran Hurriyat leader asked when was conducive atmosphere available for India on the ground floor of Jammu and Kashmir since its military occupation on 27th of October 1947?

Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman while citing the historical facts reminded that it was the same sensitive situation which India put forth as pretence to defer the plebiscite before the UN and pledged to implement it as and when the situation is conducive. The people of Kashmir have written this legitimate demand for right to self-determination as a refrain for their cherished song for freedom and have rendered precious sacrifices to achieve this cherished goal.

Advising to refrain from making Kashmir as an election stunt, the pro-freedom leader castigated the duplicity of Indian leadership who on the one hand make great hue and cry to abrogate Article 370 and 35-A to lure the electorate in India and on the other hand provide political material for its local stooges in Jammu and Kashmir by creating a farce like situation in protection of Article 370 and 35-A and false tirade against the Indian political aggression to befool the people of Kashmir. “Time and again these deceitful tactics have failed to dilute the pro-freedom sentiments of the people of Kashmir,” said Syed Ali Geelani.

Cautioning the people of Kashmir from the ill designs of all the pro-Indian regional political parties, Hurriyat (G) chairman said that for the last 71 years we have rendered innumerable sacrifices for the movement for right to self-determination and not for the so-called special status under Article 370 or 35-A which have been tarnished by all these political stooges and jugglers by exploiting the situation at every critical juncture of our freedom movement.

Pro-freedom leader expressed hope that sooner or later India shall have to accept the ground reality of Kashmir and pave way for the final resolution of this long pending dispute in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people.