Geelani asks Kashmiris to boycott polls


Srinagar, Nov 1 (IANS): Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani Friday called for a boycott of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls that will be followed by the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.

Geelani was addressing a gathering after Friday prayers in north Kashmir's Sopore town, 54 km from summer capital Srinagar.

He said solutions like the self-rule of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or the autonomy proposed by the ruling National Conference (NC) or any other option offered by other mainstream political parties would not be accepted by Kashmiris.

Geelani blamed the NC founder, late Sheikh Abdullah, for all the hardships being faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah is responsible for the mess in Kashmir since 1947.

"He gave thousands of kanals (equivalent to 505.857 sq metres or one-eighth of an acre) of land to the army to settle in Kashmir. This is how India occupied our territory and is today suppressing our people through its forces," he said.

Reacting to allegations that the government ended his house arrest so he could seek people's support for poll boycott so the ruling NC could win through bogus voting and rigging, Geelani said, "For me the NC, the PDP or the so-called Third Front are all the same.

"They are collaborators for continuing Indian rule in Kashmir. Pro-India political parties always brokered our natural resources for their power."

He also blamed the United Nations Organisation for what he alleged was the failure of the world body to have its Security Council resolutions on Kashmir implemented which mandated the right of self-determination for the people of divided Kashmir.

Geelani, under constant house arrest in his uptown Hyderpora, Srinagar residence for most of the time during this year, Friday visited his ancestral hometown of Sopore first time after three years.

Accompanied by his supporters, Geelani later visited the nearby home of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and offered condolences to his family. This was also his first visit to Afzal's home after his execution in Tihar Jail.

When informed that stone pelting incidents had broken out in Sopore town after his address there, Geelani blamed the Indian intelligence agencies for stoking trouble in the town.

 

  

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Title: Geelani asks Kashmiris to boycott polls



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