SRINAGAR: Describing elections in Kashmir as “military operation” Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani Saturday expressed “surprise” over the “silence maintained by some religious groups on the issue.”
“Geelani Sahab although expressed his satisfaction over the stand of many pro-freedom and religious organizations with respect to the elections has expressed his surprise over the silence of some other organizations that are still undecided whether to support or oppose this election drama,” a statement issued by the Hurriyat Conference (G) said.
“It is very sad that these organizations are working day and night to propagate their sects and schools of thought, but they maintain silence over the collective national and religious issues,” the statement quoted Geelani as saying.
Saying that the “election drama staged in presence of more than 7.5 lakh Indian forces” does not hold any importance and credibility, the Hurriyat (G) chairman said that there were “only two options with the political or religious organizations of Kashmir.”
“They have to be either pro-India or pro-freedom,” he said.
“The people who are on the fence and don’t maintain a clear-cut policy on Kashmir are committing a crime against their nation and religion and the silence of these people hardens this impression that they are the secret agents of Indian government and are working secretly from a very long time to harm the Kashmir cause and for this they get benefits and favours,” Geelani said.
The statement said that Geelani has expressed surprise “over the reports that some heads of these organizations have secretly got affiliated with the pro-India parties and are in good relations and moving with some important bureaucrats in the government.”
While appealing people to completely boycott the upcoming elections, Geelani said “these elections are merely a military operation rather than a democratic process which are directly managed by Indian Home Ministry and secret agencies.”
Saying that Kashmir was not an issue of good or bad governance which can be solved by replacing the rulers or faces, Geelani said “it is actually the matter of future of 1.5 Crore people who have been promised right to self determination.”
“The vote asked for water and electricity is used by India as a tool against our sacred movement by presenting it in the International forums as a referendum in its favour,” Geelani said.
“People who term the election drama as non issue actually get deceived by the cunning policy of India,” Geelani added.

Reader correspondent