People using lame excuses to justify voting: Geelani
A day after the first phase of assembly elections recorded over 70 percent turnout, Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani Wednesday said those who had exercised their franchise were using lame excuses to justify themselves.
“Despite immense sacrifices offered by Kashmiris since 1947 for the freedom struggle some people are still unable to understand the motive behind these sacrifices. Using lame excuses like development , cancellation of FIRs, etc., doesn’t justify the participation of people in polls,” Geelani said in a statement.
Geelani said Kashmiris had been fooled for decades by leaders who “recited Qur’an from religious pulpits and then sold us into India’s slavery.”
“Kashmiris must introspect whether they want to be part of a futile process(elections) or refrain from it,” he said.
Geelani said the “claims of a section of people who justify their participations in these elections by claiming that they are voting for development and change are ridiculous.”
Geelani said elections were thrust on the people despite massive floods . “Agencies lured people with money power and several opportunists jumped into the election fray,” he said.
Meanwhile, Geelani distributed relief items and cash cheques among flood-affected people