Srinagar, Dec 22: The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Shah Geelani, on Wednesday accused the pro-India leaders and ‘unscrupulous Moulvis’ of spreading sectarian hatred in the Valley ‘to weaken the freedom movement’ and urged Shias and Sunnis to maintain harmony to foil the evil design.
In a statement, Geelani said Hurriyat would foil any such attempts aimed at creating wedge between Muslims in the State. “Kashmiri Muslims are already passing through trepidation. The sentiment for right to self-determination among them has shaken the Indian leadership who have devised new ways to weaken our movement. For this they have hatched a conspiracy to divide Kashmiris in the name of Shia-Sunni and Barelwi-Deobandi,” Geelani said.
Geelani alleged that some pro-India politicians are trying to flare up the sectarian tension. “The Hurriyat has proof to establish that these politicians talk about peace and unity during day while after dusk they trigger sectarian hatred and clashes,” the veteran leader said.
Geelani appealed the Shias and Sunnis to maintain harmony and respect each other’s religious rituals. “I fervently appeal the members of the two groups to desist from any such activity which will hurt other’s religious sentiments. At this crucial juncture, I appeal the Ulema to make efforts to remove misconceptions between the two groups and help maintain sectarian unity,” he added.
The pro-freedom leader, who spearheaded the ‘Quit Jammu and Kashmir Movement’ this summer, called for peaceful protests for an hour after Friday prayers on December 24 against the ‘arrest spree’ in the Valley.
“Every Police Station has been turned into interrogation centre. The activists of pro-freedom parties and youth are being brutally tortured by giving electric shocks and hanged upside down,” he said.
Geelani said Hurriyat can’t act as a mute spectator to the matter. “For highlighting the custodial torture we are left with the lone option to stage peaceful protests. I appeal the international human rights organizations to send a team to the Valley for probing the human rights violations,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 22 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 23 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST