Separatists react strongly

Will continue struggle for return of Guru’s body
SRINAGAR, Mar 12: Prominent separatist groups have strongly reacted to the announcement of union home minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde that the body of Mohammad Afzal Guru will not be handed over to his family.
Hurriyat Conference (G), Hurriyat (M) and JKLF have said despite the refusal by government of India that the body will not be returned, the struggle will continue.
JKLF also took a strong exception to “the veiled threat by centre that action against its chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik will be taken at an appropriate time for meeting Hafiz Saeed in Islamabad.”
In his statement, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman Hurriyat (G) said, Shinde’s statement reflects the arrogant approach of Indian government towards Kashmir. Every politician in power in Delhi tries to take a lead over each other by giving statements based on military might, pressure and suppression. He described as a purely humanitarian issue the public demand for the return of mortal remains of Mohammad Afzal Guru and Mohammad Maqbool Butt.
“The response of Indian government towards the demand is an election stunt and against the principles of humanity. The Indian leaders are more concerned about their political interests in view of coming elections rather than bothering about the humanity. We were expecting that government of India and Supreme Court after hanging an innocent to satisfy the collective conscious of Indian public would hand over the body to family to atleast give this message to the world that they are against only the living people. But Shinde’s statement related too Shaheed Mohammad Afzal Guru clearly indicates that India and its local men are arrogant because of power,” Hurriyat (G) chairman said.
He also criticised the minister of state for home for “unrealistic statement” regarding the use of pepper gas and other harmful weapons. “They do not need mandate from people and they have got power because of the votes by police and forces personnel. That is why they say things favorable for government of India,” Geelani said.
Hurriyat (M) rejected the statement of Shinde and said it reflects the imperialistic thinking. “Indian home minister must accept this historical and political fact that Kashmir is not their fief and that people of Jammu and Kashmir are the masters of this state. We will not surrender our peaceful struggle for the return of Guru,” he said.
JKLF said with Shinde’s statement, the government has exposed its horrible face. A spokesman of the party said Guru was hanged illegally and his family was not allowed to meet him last lime before the hanging. He stated that Shinde’s statement clearly indicates that Congress has two faces.
The spokesman strongly assailed the Indian government for hurling threats against Yasin Malik, he added that JKLF chairman cannot be threatened since jail is second home for him.