Continuing with his mass contact programme, Hurriyat rebel Syed Ali Shah Geelani today said only God-fearing separatist leadership can help Kashmiris achieve their goal.It was obviously aimed at the Hurriyat leadership, whom Geelani — though he did not name the amalgam — charged of scaling down from their stand of seeking freedom from India or demanding implementation of the United Nations’ resolution. ‘‘They are now talking about autonomy and conversion of LoC into International Border. People are referring to Shimla agreement to solve the Kashmir issue,’’ he said.Addressing crowds at the township’s main market which brought him to the rally amid shouting of pro-militant and pro-Pakistan slogans, Geelani sought public endorsement for a new leadership. ‘‘It is my belief that only leadership which is answerable to the Almighty and freedom-loving can be guardians of our (Kashmir) just cause,’’ he said.‘‘The blood of martyrs, the arson, torture, rape that Kashmiris have suffered at the hands of Indian security forces for the past 14 years can only be represented by a new set of leadership. They should be the custodians of the sacrifices given by the people,’’ the Jamaat leader added.Geelani had recently indicated he would launch a party that will accommodate all ‘‘like-minded’’ people.Separatist leaders in and outside the Hurriyat, like Ghulam Nabi Sumji, Massarat Alam, Hakim Abdul Rashid, Shakeel Bakshi, Gulzar Ahmad Gulzar and Dr Ghulam Nabi Hubbi, are deemed to be close to the veteran hardliner. He also enjoys the support of militant ,leadership including the powerful umbrella outfit, the United Jehad Council. In fact, Sumji spoke at today’s rally decrying Hurriyat for confusing people by speaking in different voices. Geelani, in an indirect reference to Hurriyat, charged its leadership of talking divergently and in different tones. ‘‘While some are in favour of talking to Ram Jethmalani (chief of Kashmir Committee) others are willing to hold parleys on autonomy, another set talks of Shimla agreement and converting LoC in border,’’ he said. ‘‘Even the Governor now talks of the rise of moderates in separatist leadership,’’ he added. ‘‘People who talk of Shimla agreement should know that New Delhi and Islamabad did not move an inch forward in the past 31 years of signing of the pact.Calling the Mufti government as ‘‘inefficient’’, Geelani said even if he (Mufti) is against human rights violations in Kashmir, he cannot rein in the troops because ‘‘they are directly being run by Advani, Vajpayee, VHP, RSS and Army generals’’.‘‘New Delhi and state government are equating the blood of our martyrs with sops on jobs, roads, development, medicare so that Kashmiris shun the path of seeking right to self-determination,’’ Geelani said.
