Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly today witnessed intense arguments and riotous scenes over continuous detention of Hurriyat leaders.
The trouble started when National Conference (NC) leader Dr Mustafa Kamal praised Mirwaiz for asking people not to pelt stones on tourists. Er Rashid reacted to Kamal’s Statement by saying that not only Mirwaiz but every Hurriyat leader including Syed Ali Shah Geelani has been urging people to run the movement peacefully and it is the state government which does not allow Hurriyat leaders to run the movement on political lines.
He said that Mustafa Kamal stated at the floor of the house that Hurriyat leaders are against stone pelting but Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said in the same Assembly few days back that Hurriyat leaders do not want to fight main stream politicians politically. Kamal must tell the house that whether Omar is speaking truth or Mustafa Kamal?
This provoked NC MLAs and they lashed out at Er. Rashid arguing that he is advocating the ideology of separatists especially Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Aga Ruhullah said that Geelani is the evil of all troubles in Kashmir and Er. Rashid should not be allowed to speak on his behalf in the house.
Aga Ruhullah and other NC MLAs were supported by Jammu based MLAs. They lashed out at Er. Rashid and said that Geelani has lost his support and there are no stake holders for his slogans in Kashmir, however unimpressed by the attack from all sides Er Rashid said that if you are so confident about your opinion on Geelani’s support then why have you caged him in his house since last two years.
He asked government that if Hurriyat has lost its mass support then why they have detained Shabir Shah, Nayeem Khan and dozens of other Hurriyat activists. Jammu based MLAs including Chaman Lal Gupta shouted at Er Rashid and alleged that he is taking dictation from Pakistan and pleading their case here in assembly.
Aga Ruhullah criticized Hurriyat leadership especially Syed Ali Shah Geelani for disturbing peace. This resulted yet again in heated arguments and Er Rashid dared Aga Ruhullah and other MLAs to visit Kashmir without security cover and red lights and then test the ground realties.
He said that NC’s double standards stand exposed yet once more as Omer Abdullah and Mustafa Kamal are speaking on two separate wave lengths over the issue of role of Hurriyat leaders in stone pelting.
Rashid said that no Kashmiri is surprised by their double standards because the tradition of National Conference has been right from the first day to speak only that which can serve their dirty interests and which is convenient to them. He asked Jammu based MLAs to stop abusing Pakistan and should prepare their minds to get Jammu and Kashmir dispute resolved once for all which neither is nor has been integral part of India or Pakistan