Says arbitrary, coercive measures no solution to Kashmir conflict; condemns Handwara youth’s killing
Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani on Thursday termed former Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General DS Hooda’s statement that it would ‘false to say Kashmir issue has a martial solution’ as eye-opener for New Delhi.
“Army General Huda’s (statement) substantiates our claim and carries a message that arbitrary and coercive measures are no solution to Kashmir conflict,” Geelani said.
In an interview with BBC Urdu, Lieutenant General DS Hoda said that Pakistan was enjoying widespread support in Kashmir valley, saying Kashmir issue has no military solution to it, and that it can only be solved through talks.
“We will never budge from our stand,” said Geelani and hailed the resolve and resilience of people. “No power on earth can deter us from pursuing our cherished mission for right to self-determination,” he said and also rejected any solution to Kashmir issue within ambit of Indian constitution.
“Authorities in Delhi had approached and invoked UNO for the settlement of Kashmir issue,” he said while referring to a statement of India’s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj that Kashmir issue can be sorted out within frame work of Indian constitution.
“It (Swaraj) is far from reality and delivered from the mighty pedestal of arrogance,” Geelani said.
The octogenarian leader also strongly condemned the killing of Handwara youth, Shahid Bashir, by army. “Tall claims of providing ‘pen and computers to students’ is just a political gimmick. The same authorities declared killing of 12th class student Shahid Bashir as ‘marvellous achievement’ for their forces,” Geelani said.
Lashing at New Delhi, he said, the country is engaged in coercive and arbitrary measures to create “grave yard like silence” in state.
Referring to thrashing incident in Degree College Anantnag and search operations in Sub-Jail Baramulla, he said that, on mere pretext “our youth are subjected to humiliation, inhuman assault and beaten to pulp.”
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