Srinagar, Aug 30: The Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Monday ridiculed the statement of the National Conference president, Dr Farooq Abdullah that a mainstream party was provoking protesters. He also castigated the NC president for saying that Kashmir cannot survive as independent nation.           
 “Ongoing struggle is the mass movement against New Delhi’s control,” Geelani said in a statement. 
 He said that Jammu Kashmir was very rich in its natural resources and it can emerge as self-sufficient state in the world after achieving freedom.
 Reacting to the today’s statement of Dr Farooq Abdullah in parliament that Jammu Kashmir cannot afford to cede from India as it had no resources, Geelani said, “Had not the water resources, forests, tourism, fruit industry and handicrafts been plundered by India, Kashmir would have assumed the same status as that of   Switzerland in Europe.”
 Geelani said neither Indian parliament nor Pakistan could solve the Kashmir issue. “Its solution will come from Kashmir only and only solution that represents sentiment of Kashmiris will be acceptable,” he said.
 Geelani ridiculed Dr Farooq’s claim that a mainstream party was provoking the protesters. “Ongoing struggle is the mass movement against New Delhi’s control.”
 Strongly condemning the firing incidents at Maisuma and Reegipora in which several innocent were wounded, Geelani said alleged that New Delhi India has given a freehand to its forces to kill Kashmiris.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST