Crediting us for peaceful polls ‘ridiculous’: Hurriyat

A day after Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed stoked a controversy crediting Pakistan, the Hurriyat and militant outfits for peaceful elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Syed Ali Shah Geelani-led hardline Hurriyat faction termed the statement “unrealistic” and “ridiculous”.

Expressing shock, Hurriyat spokesperson Ayaz Akbar said: “As far as Hurriyat is concerned, its entire leadership and its hundreds of activists and associates were arrested some 45 days before the election drama… They were denied any chance to reach out to the people and present their stand. So commenting on any role of theirs in election drama is unrealistic and unfair and it is merely a political gimmick.”

Hurriyat equated the CM’s statement to a “person held hostage with his hand, feet and mouth tied and then to thank him for his cooperation and silence”. Akbar said that Mufti, by this statement, has tried to “create confusion and misunderstanding” about the separatist leadership.

Story continues below this ad

“If our leadership would have been allowed to reach the people with their stand, majority would have boycotted the election drama”.

Hurriyat also reacted to Mufti’s remark that Sajjad Lone’s inclusion in cabinet was a good beginning and an opportunity for others to follow. “Sajjad sahib is the son of a pro-freedom leader late Abdul Gani Lone, but he was never part of the freedom struggle,” Akbar said.