Srinagar, Sept 27: The Chairman of Hurriyat (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Monday said the ‘overwhelming response’ to the conglomerate’s civil curfew call particularly boycott of schools by majority of students today should serve as a writing on the wall for New Delhi that Kashmiris are committed to achieve their right to self-determination.
 Geelani, who is spearheading the ongoing ‘Quit Jammu and Kashmir Movement,’ on Sunday asked the people to observe civil curfew today and urged the parents not to send their wards to school to, what he said, thwart the Government’s attempt to suppress the movement.
 “The Government left no stone unturned to force the students to attend the schools. But the students wholeheartedly lend support to the ongoing movement by staying away from the schools. The overwhelming response to the conglomerate’s call should serve as writing on the wall for New Delhi that Kashmiris are committed to achieve the right to self-determination,” Geelani told Greater Kashmir.
 The veteran leader expressed gratitude to the people especially parents and students for making the conglomerate’s call successful and urged them to support his 10-day protest calendar.
 “By showing concern over the education of the Kashmiri children, the Government wants to divert the attention from the real dispute and shows its frustration for failing to break the ongoing movement. Government has given so much hype to the opening of schools as if it is fighting a war. Ironically, the Government did not even speak a word when our 109 youth and teenagers, mostly students, were being killed with impunity by the troopers and cops in past over three months,” he said.
 Maintaining that the ongoing movement is supreme than education, Geelani said the students can’t study in the insecure atmosphere. “Kashmiris have not sacrificed their lives for jobs, economic packages or sending their children to schools. They are rendering unflinching support to the movement for their respect, identity and right to self-determination,” he said.
 Geelani accused the Government of India of hatching conspiracies to break the shutdowns. “It has empowered the police, troopers and Ikhwanis to spread a reign of terror mainly for suppressing the aspirations of Kashmiris. Over 1500 youth, teenagers and pro-freedom leadership has been implicated and put behind bars to break their resolve,” he said.
 Geelani said it is high time for New Delhi to accept the ground realities in the Valley and accept the conglomerate’s five demands including accepting Kashmir as an international dispute, revoking the special powers to troopers, complete demilitarization and releasing all detainees.
 “Till these demands are not implemented on ground, the ongoing agitation will continue and even if India uses its all military might, it can’t suppress it,” Geelani maintained.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:00:00 IST