Geelani to Delhi: Resolve Kashmir ‘Insaniyat Kay Dairay Mai’
‘Don’t hold Kashmiris hostage to rigid stand’
The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani, Wednesday hit out at the Government of India for “delaying” resolution of Kashmir dispute and “holding Kashmiris hostage to its rigid stand.”
Geelani said successive regimes in New Delhi have failed to implement the promise of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to resolve Kashmir ‘insaniyat kay dairay mai’ (within the ambit of humanity).
“When Vajpayee talked of resolving Kashmir insaniyat kay dairay mai, everybody welcomed it. Keeping up with India’s traditional stand on Kashmir, Vajpayee and his successors failed to translate these words into reality,” Geelani said, addressing a gathering after inaugurating a blood donation camp organized by Tehreek-Hurriyat here.
Elaborating, Geelani said, Government of India as signatory to 18 resolutions on Kashmir in the United Nations and promises of its leaders “is legally and morally bound to resolve the dispute.”
“However, India has adopted a rigid stand on Kashmir and uses different tactics to deny Kashmiris their inalienable right to self-determination,” he said.
The Hurriyat (G) Chairman said the inordinate delay in resolution of Kashmir is taking a heavy toll on Kashmiris. “Since 1947, people of Kashmir have been suffering due to delay in resolution of the dispute. For the past over two decades, thousands of Kashmiris were killed by armed forces and this beautiful valley is teaming up with widows and orphans. India is holding Kashmiris hostage to its rigid stand on Kashmir,” he said.
“Kashmir dispute is not just a political problem but has assumed different contours. It has become an economic, religious, social and rather a humanitarian problem due to delay in its resolution. For lasting peace in the region, resolution of Kashmir is imperative. It is high time for India to resolve Kashmir in its historical perspective, UN resolutions and insaniyat kay dairay mai (within ambit of humanity),” Geelani said.
Geelani hailed Pakistan for its stand and commitment to resolve Kashmir. “Government of Pakistan has been lending moral and diplomatic support to help Kashmiris to get their right to self-determination,” he said.
A large number of people donated blood during the camp. Geelani also announced to organize more blood banks and welfare programmes across Kashmir.
Geelani said the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat under the banner of Milli Trust will implement welfare programmes on the pattern of Edhi Foundation in Pakistan. “We will organize humanitarian and welfare programmes for our brethren,” he said.
The unrest in 2008 and 2010 prompted the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat to launch Syed Ali Shah Geelani Blood Bank last year. “Many people including teenagers fired upon by cops and forces lost their lives for want of blood. In presence of trigger-happy forces, no Kashmiri is safe. In this situation, we need to be prepared to meet any eventualities for saving precious lives,” he said.
He said the Milli Trust will offer medical assistance, ambulance service, special scholarship schemes to students and help in upliftment of destitute, widows and orphans. “We appeal to well off people of Kashmir to help us to make this noble endeavor a success,” he said.