SRINAGAR: Reiterating poll boycott call, the chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani has called for shutdown on April 21 against the detention of pro-freedom leaders and activists in Kashmir while he also issued a protest calendar for in connection with polls.
Addressing his first press conference after returning from New Delhi, the octogenarian leader termed the upcoming polls as ‘military operation’.
“These polls are nothing but a military operation.We are being imprisoned in our houses. Youth are being chased and detained. Other pro-freedom leaders including Shabir Ahmad Shah and JKLF leaders are also being imprisoned. There is no democracy and freedom in Jammu and Kashmir but it is governed by police and army,” he said adding we appeal people to observe the shutdown on 21st April, Monday against the detentions of pro-freedom leaders and youths.
Appealing people to boycott the upcoming elections, he said “We reserve right to tell people that lack of basic facilities has no importance for an oppressed nation. Where there is no guarantee of life and property the scarcity of water and other facilities for which they vote doesn’t hold any importance. So we ask people not vote and boycott the elections because India uses our vote by conveying that people of Kashmir are with her,” he said.
The Hurriyat chairman alleged that the pro-freedom leadership is being stopped from running anti-poll campaign.
“We are being stopped from conveying our point to the people. It is highhandedness of police and is unlawful to stop. They announced that we won’t stop pro-freedom camp from running boycott campaign but the situation is different on the ground. The way people have right to campaign in favour of elections and similarly we have right to ask people not to vote. It is a democratic right,” he said.
He issued a protest calendar against the polling. “On 24 April, there would be civil curfew in South Kashmir. Similarly, there would be civil curfew in Central Kashmir on 30th April and also in North Kashmir on 7th May,” he said adding “Besides, we appeal people to hold protests a day before they go for polls from Magrib to Isha we ask people to sit at home on poll days.”
He slammed the pro-India political parties and said that they are betraying people by seeking votes in the name of resolving Kashmir issue.
“They are all same. Whether it is Congress, BJP, NC, PDP, AIP, PC, CPI (M) or independent candidates, all of them are same. These people are justifying and serving Indian occupation.”
Geelani alleged that army in Koil, Pulwama is asking people to vote.
“We have reports that army is asking and forcing people to vote in the elections. They have threatened locals while they have arrested many youths,” he alleged, adding we condemn it.
