Accusing the government of changing the demography of J&K “on the pattern of Israel”, the Hurriyat Conference Monday called for an agitation against the “occupation” of land by the security forces.
“What Israel is doing in Palestine, India wants to do in Kashmir,” Hurriyat Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani said at a press conference in Srinagar after giving the slip to the J-K Police that had been deployed in strength to prevent him from addressing the media. “A conspiracy has been hatched to turn Jammu and Kashmir into a (Muslim) minority state. The people should stand up and foil this move.”
Geelani said “detailed programme” for the “district-wise” agitation would be announced on October 23. “Strike and peaceful demonstrations will be held in every district of the state,” he said. “On October 23, a complete shutdown would be observed in Shopian district followed by peaceful demonstrations seeking complete withdrawal of troops and the right to self determination”.
Geelani urged the people to “show restraint” during the proposed protests. “I urge people to remain peaceful and not use provocative actions or slogans during the programme,” he said. “Only slogans of troop withdrawal and right to self determination should be raised.”
Geelani alleged that security forces were “occupying” more than 27 lakh kanals (about 113 lakh acres)of land in the state.
Police was deployed in strength outside Hotel Ahdoos to prevent Geelani from addressing a press conference there. He, however, managed to dodge the security ring—like he has on several occasions in the past—by arriving at the hotel in an auto-rickshaw. Police, who were on the look-out for Geelani after he left his Hyderpora residence on Sunday night, would have expected him to come in a car and surrounded by a group of his supporters, so they apparently did not check the auto-rickshaw and let it past the hotel gate. Police, however, arrested several of his associates outside the hotel.
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