Hardline Huriyat leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani has entered into another verbal spat with moderate Hurriyat chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. This time the reason being ‘different’, “whether people failed the leadership or leadership failed them”.
Talking to a local newspaper, Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani held people of Kashmir responsible for the failure of leadership, while referring to the massive participation of people in elections.
Washing his hands off from the failure of leadership, Geelani attributed bankruptcy of movement to people who didn’t boycott the polls.
“If people have lost confidence in their leaders, it also is the weakness of people,” said Geelani.
While Geelani termed the Hurriyat leadership introspective, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in his statement praised the commitment of people to the movement.
Addressing the congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid, here on Friday, Mirwaiz said, “irrespective of the difficulties, people of Jammu and Kashmir have shown great steadfastness to continue our ongoing freedom struggle.”
Commenting on the ‘materialistic’ preferences of people, Geelani said that good jobs, universities, and other developments won’t bring freedom, which should be the first priority above other necessities.
A week after Geelani’s statement, Mirwaiz while addressing the congregation saluted the commitment of people despite the escalation of human rights violations every now and then.
Giving an edge to people over the Hurriyat leadership Mirwaiz said that people have shown a greater courage than the Hurriyat leadership. “The courage shown by people toward the freedom struggle despite every torment, encourages Hurriyat leadership and gives us hope that the next generation is committed to the struggle.”