Riyaz ul Khaliq
SRINAGAR
Addressing youth, Hurriyat patriarch Syed Ali Geelani Friday reiterated to continue his struggle against “Indian occupation” till achieving “freedom”.
“I want to tell my people, my beloved youth,” Geelani said moments before being arrested while coming out of his Hyderpora residence for the proposed “Jamia Masjid Chalo”, “that our sacred struggle will continue in any case till we achieve freedom from illegal and forcible Indian occupation.”
The joint program of united resistance leadership had called for a march to Jamia Masjid Srinagar today to offer congregational Friday prayers. But curfew and huge deployment of forces derailed the march.
“I, without any fear or any regret, announce it forces are committing a big crime that a nation is being disallowed to pray (to their God),” the Geelani said amid slogans by his supporters outside his Hyderpora residence. “But we have to have faith in Almighty and be hopeful. There is no room for cowardice and sadness. Insha Allah, Allah will help us!”
Geelani condemned the forces action for fresh killings and injuries in Kashmir.
“We want to tell the Indian politicians and its leadership who are worshippers of Indian nationalism that Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory. And since 1947, the natives of this region have persistently resisted the occupation of India,” he said.
“Over 6 lakh people have been killed while over 10000 people have been subjected to enforced disappearance,” he said. “The modesty of our 6000 daughters and mothers has been outraged and we have around 7600 graves and we don’t know who lays buried in them. Thousands of households have been destroyed and properties of our people have been damaged.”
Congratulating youths for playing proactive role in on-going movement, Geelani said Kashmiris are committed to the “cause”. “I am thankful to those youths who are ready to sacrifice their youth for the sacred cause,” he said. “I salute and pay tributes to their commitment with the cause.”
Geelani also expressed his gratitude to traders who paid heavy prices during 2008 and 2010 uprisings and are still facing problems. “I listened to them and they didn’t show any remorse. They said that they will support this movement in any case,” Geelani said.
Paying homage to 22-year-old popular militant commander Burhan Wani, Geelani said the rebel sacrificed his life for the cause. “His commitment and purity gave a new lease of life to our movement,” he said. “I appeal my people to make Burhan (RA) ideal in his character towards freedom struggle and we will get help from such ways that we will have no idea of.”
(The report was prepared from a 6.22 minutes video statement released by Hurriyat Conference (g) after Syed Ali Geelani was arrested on way to Jamia Masjid Nowhatta on Friday.)
