Srinagar, Mar 13: Reacting to the National Minority Commission Chief Wajahat Habibullah’s statement that there is nothing wrong with the usage of word Azadi by Kashmiris as Indian constitution guarantees it (freedom) to every citizen of the country, the Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Tuesday termed it a ‘beautiful’ joke. 
 Geelani in a statement rejected as impracticable the Wajahat’s suggestion that Kashmiris should forget their past. “How can we forget that New Delhi took the forcible possession of Jammu Kashmir in 1947 against the wishes of its people? How can we forget that the forces killed lakhs of our innocent and hapless people? 10, 000 Kashmiris have been subjected to enforced disappearance and thousands buried in unnamed graves.  How can we forget the rape and molestation of thousands of our mothers, sister and daughters by forces?  How can we forget 50000 orphans and 30000 widows?,” he said.
 Reacting to the Wajahat’s statement that Kashmiris are demanding greater democracy, Geelani termed it a wrong interpretation of the situation. He said Kashmiris’ demand was noting but Azadi.
 Commenting on Wajahat’s statement that he was not wishing to exchange his citizenship of India with any other country because he considered himself to be a free living in India, Geelani said by saying so he (Wajahat) was demonstrating his loyalty to New Delhi from where had been getting salary and other perks throughout his life.
 Geelani said Kashmir’s situation was quite different from what was portrayed by people sitting in New Delhi. “These people always try to mislead the world community. Those who want to know about the inner feelings of Kashmiris, should study the ground realities of Kashmir and then accept the real aspirations of Kashmiris,” he said.
 Geelani clarified that the first and last target of Kashmiris’ struggle is complete freedom and anything less than it (freedom) and right of self-determination is unacceptable to them.
 “Compared to Azadi the withdrawal of AFSPA and PSA like black laws is non-issue,” said Geelani.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 13 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST