Now, Geelani says don’t sing 'Jana Gana Mana'…

Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani stirred up a hornet’s nest on Wednesday when he asked students of the University of Kashmir to boycott functions where national anthem Jana Gana Mana… is recited.

“Jana Gana Mana… is against our beliefs. It is un-Islamic and should not be recited. Everybody should boycott functions where it is recited,” Geelani told the students.  The Hurriyat leader was arrested soon after he left the university campus.

“A police team chased his vehicle and took him into custody. He has been lodged at the Humhama police station,” Ayaz Akbar, a spokesman for the Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference, said. “We have always said this [that the national anthem should not be recited]. It is un-Islamic. Today, Geelani Sahib reiterated it before the students,” he said.

Earlier, there was high drama as Geelani was stopped from entering the university. He was let in only after the students intervened. Geelani said Jammu and Kashmir was a disputed territory and the UN had adopted 18 resolutions for its people’s right to self-determination.

“We are not against talks, but it is preamble that India accepts Kashmir as a dispute and involves all three parties, Kashmiris, India and Pakistan, in finding a resolution,” he said.