Condemns use of force to stop it

Srinagar: While strongly condemning the sealing of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Hyderpora head office, raids and arrest spree in the entire Kashmir valley and use of “excessive and brutal” force against the pro-freedom people to stop the proposed “Million March” programme, Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani said that the government has no moral, constitutional and legal justifications in stopping the scheduled programme.

He said that if the communal and non-state people can held rallies in Kashmir, then why is the citizens of this state not allowed to do the same? While terming the statement of police that “the Million March will create law and order problems” as their traditional and old excuse, Geelani said that actually the government forces are itself disturbing the law and order situations by banning and using excessive and unnecessary force against the peaceful programmes of the pro-freedom people.

He added: “We had earlier taken the responsibility of the law and order situations and assured that the proposed million march will be peaceful and disciplined in every way and that event will not create any law and order problem and nor will that disturb the traffic system but the administration and the government forces displayed a worst face of state terrorism and started a massive arrest spree under which hundreds of pro-freedom leaders, activists and innocent students have been arrested and detained in different police stations and jails so far”.

While commenting over the announcement of “financial package” by the Indian Prime Minister in Kashmir, Hurriyat (G) Chairman said that “we will not surrender our birth and basic rights even if India will construct our roads with gold”. He said that if the prime minister of India is sincere then let him announce the package for which the Kashmiri people are waiting since 1947 and for which “our nation has offered tremendous sacrifices so far”.

“Let him (PM) fulfill those forgotten promises which the former rulers of India had made with the simple and peace loving people of Jammu & Kashmir at both national and international forums that the people of the state will be given a chance to decide their future through a free and fair referendum process. And this package is the permanent, peaceful and only solution to the hardships and miseries of the Kashmiri people.”

The Kashmiri pro-freedom leader said that the details of the “Packages” announced by the different rulers of India in Kashmir till date is that their occupational forces has killed more than 6 lakh innocent and unarmed civilians in Jammu & Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the statement said that Geelani has strongly condemned the continuous crackdown on the “pro-freedom” people and the further arrests of hundreds of Hurriyat leaders and the common people which include Gh. Nabi Sumji, Mohammad Yousuf Naqash, Rayees Ahmad Mir, Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Andrabi, Dr. G.M. Ganai, Mushtaq Ahmad Shaikh, Maqbool Chadoora, Jahangir Ahmad Ahangar, Fayaz Ahmad, Imtiyaz Ahmad Gooru and Abdul Gaffar Rather.

While appealing the people to be ready for the Million March and make this programme a success, Geelani said that the restrictions, arrests and excesses use of force will not “deter us from demanding our just and genuine democratic demands”.KNS