Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani Sunday said: “Creating terror threat perception during the upcoming Amarnath Yatra is a calculated move aimed at maligning and discrediting the political struggle of Kashmir”.
In a statement issued today Geelani also denounced what he called misinformation campaign carried by “Indian media.”
Geelani said: “People in Kashmir while continuing with the age-old tradition of providing best hospitality to pilgrims have always been friendly and generous to visitors and particularly to Amarnath Yatries.”
Geelani said: “Amarnath Yatra has been conducted since decades and the people here have treated these yatries with unique hospitality and people have always been hospitable, decent and received them (yatries) as their guests.”
Referring to “propaganda launched by Indian media wherein they are propagating that Amarnath Yatries are facing threat from people of state”, Syed Ali Geelani said terror threat to the upcoming Amarnath Yatra is a brazen lie and aimed to malign Kashmir movement.
Geelani said: “Kashmiris are not against any religion or its followers; however they are pursuing a legitimate struggle for their fundamental rights.”
“People since last seven decades are demanding right to self-determination to decide the political destiny of state and India and international community are signatory to these resolutions,” said Geelani.
Fanatical forces in India are desperate to give bad name to Kashmir movement and as such are relying on negative propaganda and following their fanatical dogma, said Geelani.
Blaming the sectarian forces for “playing folly”, Syed Ali Geelani said: “It is a deceit and a well-planned out ploy to carry out their mysterious agenda against people in State.”
Strongly ridiculing “Indian media’, Geelani said: “India is trying to mislead its people and international community by negative and baseless propaganda.” Geelani in his statement stressed on people “to make aware the Amarnath Yatries about the reality of the struggle of Jammu Kashmir while continuing with the age-old tradition of providing best hospitality to pilgrims.”
“Indian agencies, saffron brigade and its biased media are providing misinformation, round the clock about, so-called threat, situations in Kashmir and our struggle, said Geelani, adding: “Now they have launched a misinformation campaign saying that people in state have ill intentions against pilgrimage and Yatries”, added Geelani.
Geelani while referring to “peoples uprising” in 2008, 2010, and 2016, said: “Even in those gloomy circumstances, people despite restrictions and curfew received these yatries with open arms and provided shelter and food.”
“It is our age-old tradition and in future we will follow this tradition with same spirit and receive these yatries as our revered guests,” Geelano said.
Geelani said: “These fanatical forces are relying on lame excuse and preparing ground for communal tension against Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir and as such are voicing rhetoric about so-called threat warnings against Amarnath yatries.”
Geelani in his statement while addressing to yatries said: “There is no threat to their life .”
He urged them “to consider the sufferings, the people of Kashmir are facing”.
He urged them “to present the real picture of our struggle before Indians people and make aware them of the historical background of this dispute”.
It is your duty, Geelani said, while addressing to yatries.
“It will serve a purpose and people in state will be obliged for this kind of support,” he added.
Geelani said that Kashmir is a political issue and visitors should feel the pain and see the issue through the “prism of humanity”.
He added that issue has nothing to do with “extremism or fanaticism”.
