Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani Thursday called for complete shutdown on November 20 against proposed visit of Narinder Prime Minister Modi.In a statement to KNS he said, “So called state administration is resorting to its dictatorial tactics and elections are being conducted with dint of might but we are committed that election boycott campaign will continue despite arrest of pro-freedom leaders and activists. The local administration has unleashed a reign of terror by arresting youths and party activists and has waged a war against civilians.”Referring to devastation created by recent floods, Geelani strongly criticized state authorities for their ‘negligence and uncaring attitude’. “People are facing immense difficulties and living from hand to mouth. We have lost everything but callous and brutal authorities neglecting all this and instead of providing any relief to flood victims are arresting their bread winners and youth,” he said.Terming arrests as unjustified and unlawful, Geelani said, “Youth are on run and desperately roving from one place to other for shelter and safety.”
While commenting over fresh arrest spree, he said, “It has proved more disastrous than catastrophe of recent deluge. Why our youth are being harassed and tortured for no fault of their and what is their crime and why they are being suppressed and subjugated.”
While taking a dig at administration, Geelani said, “It is their power of arrogance and our youth are denied right to life and dignity. State administration has always resorted to barbaric approach against common man and bullets, pellets and pepper gas are being showered at our youth,” he alleged.While expressing his dismay over ‘insensitiveness’ of world bodies, Geelani said, “They act as mute spectators and even after seeing gross violation of human values, they never played their effective and assigned role.”
Geelani stressed people to register their protest after Friday prayers against ‘highhandedness and barbaric approach’ of police and state authorities and in his passionate appeal to lawyers, all religious heads, transporters, business community, students, teachers and all pro freedom parties urged to register their protest and added that “we should convey through our resentment that such cowardice tactics won’t deter us from carrying our mission to its logical conclusion.”Reiterating his appeal for election boycott, Geelani said, “Until we achieve freedom from India, we will boycott election processes as India portrays these election as our consent and hence participation in election process has proved to detrimental for our freedom movement.”