Srinagar, Dec 20: The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Monday asked the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to accept the ground realities in Kashmir and criticized her for praising soldiers operating in the Valley.
 Reacting to Sonia’s recent statement in which she had underscored the need to address the alienation of the new generation in Jammu and Kashmir and pointed towards Pakistan for fomenting trouble, Geelani maintained that the movement of Kashmiris for right to self-determination is indigenous.
 “Sonia ji should have been aware about the sufferings of Kashmiris at the hands of force personnel. Kashmir is a human tragedy linked with India. I want to remind Sonia ji that till October 26, 1947 Kashmir was an independent country. However, India violated all the democratic norms and values on October 27, 1947 by making the so-called agreement with a few persons and ordering its soldiers to land in the Valley to make Kashmiris their slaves,” Geelani  said.
 Geelani said since then, Kashmiris have been living a miserable life. “Gradually the alienation of Kashmiris increased against India. Instead of putting forth the riddles, Sonia ji should understand the facts and ground realities in Kashmir and addresses the dispute on humanitarian grounds. It is high time for Sonia ji to reach to the root of the dispute which can only be resolve by granting right to self-determination to Kashmiris,” he said.
 Geelani maintained that the unrest in Kashmir had no links with Pakistan. “Kashmiris are fighting for their own rights and against oppression. No neighboring country or force but Indian soldiers and leaders have been exploiting the Kashmiris. It is ironical and regrettable that Sonia ji praises the soldiers who are involved in grave human rights violations in Kashmir. By doing so, Sonia ji has added insult to our injurues,” Geelani added.

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