Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public rally on November 7 here, several separatist leaders have been detained across Kashmir as the Hurriyat Conference has given a call for a rally on the same day.
The hardline separatist group headed by Syed Ali Geelani, however, has not yet moved an application for holding a rally on November 7 at the Tourist Reception Centre ground, a few hundred metres away from the venue of Modi’s rally.
“We have not received any application seeking permission for holding a rally,” said a senior J&K government official who did not wanted to be quoted. “But even if they move an application, we will not to allow them to hold the rally,” he added.
The indication that the government would not allow the proposed Hurriyat rally was made clear as many separatist leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Yasin Malik and Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Shah, across the valley were detained since Saturday evening. Geelani, who had called for the ‘million march’, continues to remain under house arrest.
While calling for the march, Geelani had said that he would take responsibility that the rally would be “peaceful and not create any law and order problem.” Almost all separatists have supported the call for Geelani’s march.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit J&K on November 7 and address his first public rally at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium after the formation of the PDP-BJP government. He is expected to announce Rs 1 lakh crore financial package for the flood-ravaged state.
A high-level meeting was held at the Police Control Room on Sunday to review the arrangements for Modi’s visit. The meeting was chaired by Director General of Police K Rajindra and was attended by senior police, intelligence and civil officials.
Sources said the government had decided to act tough against those who would try to disrupt law and order ahead of the Prime Minister’s visit.
“We are keeping a vigil on the activities of those who have in the past disrupted law and order. Many among them would be taken into preventive custody,” said a police officer. “We are also keeping an eye on the social media wherein the pages for the ‘million march’ are being promoted. Law will take action against them too,” he added.
Meanwhile, the security forces have sanitised the venue for the Prime Minister’s public rally, which according to government sources would be attended by over 20,000 people.
