The rally was organised by hard-line faction of Hurriyat Conference to welcome Geelani, who returned to Srinagar after spending months in New Delhi. It was after a long time that Geelani was allowed by the government to hold the rally in the heart of Srinagar.
A welcome rally for the Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani turned out to be a massive anti-India and pro-Pakistan convention with recently released face of 2010 agitation Masarat Alam stealing the thunder by calling for the merger of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan.
Facing flak, the Jammu and Kashmir police immediately registered a case against the separatist leaders under the unlawful activities act and other relevant sections of the Ranbir Penal Code.
The rally was organised by hard-line faction of Hurriyat Conference to welcome Geelani, who returned to Srinagar after spending months in New Delhi. It was after a long time that Geelani was allowed by the government to hold the rally in the heart of Srinagar.
Amid waving of Pakistani national flags and pro-Pakistani slogans, Geelani was brought to the stage in a procession to the venue – upmarket Hyderpora – where he addressed thousands of people from a makeshift stage.
It was, however, Muslim League chief and face of 2010 'azadi' groundswell Masarat Alam who took the centrestage leading the anti-India and pro-Pakistan crusade. "Teri jaan, meri jaan (your life, my life)," shouted Alam. "Pakistan, Pakistan," retorted the crowd
Alam did not stop here and went ahead shouting "Tera mera kya armaan (What is your and my wish)". "Kashmir banega Pakistan (Kashmir will become Pakistan)", came the reply from the crowd. "Hum kaya Chahte (what do we want)," shouted Alam. "Äzadi (freedom)" retorted the crowd.
Even Alam shouted slogans in favour of Lashkar founder Hafiz Sayeed with crowd retorting in union. Defiant Alam later said he only promoted the aspirations of the youth who love Pakistan in Kashmir.
"We do not promote the interests of any country. We promoted the aspirations of the people and youth who expressed their love for Pakistan. They love Pakistan and they love freedom movement," Alam said.
Geelani on the other side warned New Delhi that there would be no peace in Jammu and Kashmir unless army is vacated from the state. "Change of government does not make any difference. New Delhi has forcibly occupied J&K. Unless India vacates its army from here, there will be no peace in the state", he said.
The rally sparked an angry reaction from saffron outfits with ruling alliance partner the BJP and Vishwa Hindu Parishad demanding slapping of sedition charges against Geelani and Alam and their immediate arrest under Public Safety Act.
"They are agents of Pakistan and they get directions from across. I have contradicted my own government for allowing this rally. I am meeting union home minister in this regard", said Ravinder Raina, BJP MLA from Nowshera and chief of Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha.
VHP said they would launch a protest against Geelani and Alam and press for their arrest. "They cannot go scot free. They should be booked for sedition and put behind the bars under PSA", said Rama Kant Dubey, chief patron of VHP in J&K.
Case registered against Geelani, Masarat
Police registered a case against Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Masarat Alam Bhat , Bashir Ahmad Bhat alias Peer Saifullah and other separatist leaders for provocative activities and hoisting Pakistani flag in Hyderpora.
"Some miscreants, who were part of the crowd organised by Geelani and others, also pelted stones on CRPF vehicles. However security forces maintained restraint to safeguard the lives of people," a police spokesman said.
An FIR No. 92/2015 under sections 13 Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 120-B, 147,341,336,427 RPC was registered in Budgam police station and investigation into the matter has been taken up, the spokesman added.
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