Srinagar, Aug 29: The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Sunday said Kashmiris have taken over the mantle of the ongoing movement and the arrest of pro-freedom leaders won’t break their resolve.
 Accusing the Government of resorting to what he said autocratic tactics to crush the ongoing movement Geelani maintained that it was high time for New Delhi to accept the ground realities.
“It seems the Government is deliberately shying away from the fact that this movement is not of any individual but all Kashmiris who have been fighting for the right to self-determination. What we see today on the streets of Kashmir is pure peoples’ movement which is being guided by the pro-freedom leadership,” Geelani told Greater Kashmir.  
Geelani said if the Government believes that by arresting the pro-freedom leaders the ongoing movement can be suppressed, it is living in a fool’s paradise. “Even if they keep all the leaders behind bars still this movement which has entered into a decisive phase will go on. Kashmiris including youth and children are with the movement from the core of their heart,” he said.
The veteran leader said the ongoing movement would continue till India accepts Kashmir as a dispute, withdraws troopers, releases all the political prisoners and give right to self-determination to Kashmiris.
Geelani said the mass participation of people in the ‘Quit Jammu and Kashmir Movement’ had frustrated the Government. “The troopers and police have been given unbridled powers to kill and harass the unarmed Kashmiris. But this ploy has started to backfire and not only intensified the protests but the alienation towards the New Delhi,” he said.   
He said history stands testimony to the fact that since 1947, New Delhi has failed to suppress the aspirations of Kashmiris. “The sacrifices rendered by over one lakh Kashmiris should serve as a glaring example of their resolve. Despite curfews and in presence of over seven lakh troopers, Kashmiris are still demanding freedom. It is high time for New Delhi to acknowledge the struggle of Kashmiris and give them the right to self-determination,” he said.
He said the India was delaying resolution of the Kashmir dispute by projecting it as an economic issue for what he said hoodwinking the International Community. “Kashmiris are not sacrificing their lives for jobs or economic packages. I want to maintain that lingering Kashmiris dispute can have serious repercussions,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST