Srinagar, Sept 28: The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Tuesday urged the people to solemnize the marriages with utmost austerity in view of killings and clampdown in the Valley in the past over three months.
 In a statement, the Hurriyat (G) spokesman, Ayaz Akbar quoting Geelani said in view of the prevailing circumstances in the Valley and Islamic teachings, there is no justification for extravaganza in the marriages. “It is the duty of Ulema, senior citizens to play an important role to apprise the people about their responsibilities towards the society. It is high time that Kashmiris should rise to the occasion and avoid extravagance,” Geelani said.  
 Condemning the Government’s move to force the students to attend the schools, Geelani termed it as an attempt to suppress the ongoing movement. “Kashmiris know the importance of education than any other nation and don’t need advises rather interference from anybody. Ironically the Government of India and New Delhi based news channels are projecting the issues in such a way as if the conglomerate has waged a war against the dissemination of education,” he said.
 Geelani said before the Eid, the students used to attend the schools on the normal days according to the conglomerate’s calendar. “On the eve of Eid we had relaxed the shutdown for six days. If the authorities were really concerned, they would have allowed the students to attend schools during the period. But the fact is the Government is actually using the pretext of education to break our movement,” he said.  
 Geelani said the ongoing movement has even forced the groups, who are fighting for their rights in various states, to raise voice against the use of force to quell the voice of Kashmiris. 
 Meanwhile, Geelani clarified that there was no change in the Hurriyat’s protest calendar and maintained that there would be no strike on Wednesday.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 28 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:00:00 IST