For decades now, Syed Ali Shah Geelani leader, has quite a radical vision for the state of Jammu and Kashmir, one that involves nothing short of a youth-led revolution.
In an exclusive interview with dna Syed Ali Shah Geelani reiterated this call for the freedom, and his rather sypathetics views of India's politically fragile neighbour, Pakistan.
“The youth is an asset in every nation and the pro-occupation forces are after them everywhere. They try to woo them with different policies but majority of the Kashmiri youngsters, I assure you, are with the freedom movement,” he claimed. “The youth of Kashmir is much more conscious today and they very well know the importance of Azaadi from India,” he insisted.
On his affinity for Pakistan, he explained, “When the accession of princely states of India was in process, the three major points kept in consideration were: geographical position of a place, the religious inclination and most of all the cultural similarities between the people. All these reference points prove that we should have been part of Pakistan and not India.”
And despite these strong views on statehood, Geelani couldn't care much about governance. He has asked the Kashmiri people to boycott Lok Sabha election, because he believes that “Things won't change even if we vote”. He told dna, “Whether we vote or not, whoever forms the government has the duty to fulfill these basic needs and requirements of the people. Kashmiris do pay taxes. The first and foremost responsibility of any government is to take care of human lives, property, religion, but they have always failed to protect us.”
Geelani, liberally criticised the ruling government, and has even expressed his condemnnation of Afzal Guru's hanging, who he refers to as “an innocent”. But neither does he hold favourable views on BJP or Narendra Modi as an alternative. “If people think Vajpayee had a soft stand on Kashmir, it is all untrue. Whatever Atal Bihari Vajpayee said, was in air and nothing was done on the ground. Even in the NDA rule, same things happened in Kashmir. Pro-freedom movement was heavily curbed.”
He even goes so far as to call Modi a “murderer”, saying, “It was his responsibility being the chief minister of Gujarat to protect and safeguard the minority, but he did not do so. He is a RSS follower. Hurriyat and the people of Kashmir have no expectations from them at all.”
Just, earlier today, Geelani, claimed that BJP sent 'emissaries' to him for solution on Kashmir. Although, he said he rejected the plea since he had no hopes of Modi developing an acceptable policy on J&K.
BJP, on the other hand, denied sending anyone to meet the Hurriyat leader. BJP denies Narendra Modi sending emissaries to meet Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Read full text of their response, here.
To read the full interview, click here.
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