Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Thursday called for observance of a general strike on June 25 to protest against the Prime Minster Manmohan Singh’s Kashmir visit and press for the return of mortal remains of Mohammad Maqbool Bhat and Afzal Guru. Geeleai said that the strike would be also a symbolic protest of Kashmiris against the government decision of increasing the duration of Amarnat Yatra to 55 days, but said no one was against the yatra or its faith."I appeal to the people of the state to observe a complete general strike on the day the Prime Minister arrives here," he told reporters in a press conference at his Hyderpora residence .
He said the strike will be observed to remind Government of India and the world that Kashmir is a dispute pending a resolution. "Besides, we also want to press for our demand for return of mortal remains of Mohammad Afzal Guru and Mohammad Maqbool Bhat," he said. The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit the state on June 25 to inaugurate the Qazigund-Banihal link of the Kashmir rail project.
On reports of threat to Amaranth yatra, Geelani said the government's claim of threat to the yatra was a "political stunt" aimed at maligning the "freedom struggle" of Kashmiris. Hre however reiterated his demand of reducing the duration of yatra and organizing the yatra on ‘Gangotri’ pattern so that the ecology of the area does not take a ‘hit’.
“ we rae not against the yatra. In 2008 when fundamentalists in Jammu blocked the Srinagar Jammu highway and prevented even the baby milk to enter Kashmir, our people hosted the yatris with traditional fervor. But Government is now giving it a political color and projecting kashmiris as anti-yatra in India and world over”, said Geelani.
The octogenarian separatist leader said that the June 25 strike would also highlight the resentment of kashmiri people against what he said’ narrowing down political space’ of separatist leaders by the government.“The valley has virtually slipped into the army and police control and a unannounced martial law is enforced in the state. Ironically government is terming the enforced silence as peace in the state”, lamented Geelani.
According to KNS reporter, Geelani said that during 2008 agitation, 125 people dies, 3800 were wounded in the ‘indiscriminate firing’ by forces and added that authorities registered cases against 5,800 youth most of them students in different police stations.