Srinagar, Feb 15: Chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani Friday extended strike call by two days against the arrest of youth and strict curfew in the valley in the wake of Afzal Guru’s hanging. He also said there would be no strike from February 18 but the Hurriyat will follow one-point agenda to seek return of Guru’s body from New Delhi’s Tihar Jail.
Talking to Greater Kashmir over phone from New Delhi, Geelani said he has come to know about the arrest of youths by police and other security agencies. “The authorities in Kashmir also scuttled our Eidgah Chalo program. Our aim was to offer funeral prayers in absentia for Guru,” said Geelani.
He said Hurriyat has called for two-day strike for February 16 and 17 against government’s decision to put in place strict curbs across Kashmir and arresting the youths. “There will be no strike Monday onwards till we discuss future course of action,” the ailing leader said.
“We will strive hard to seek the body of Guru from Tihar Jail,” he said.
Geelani termed the execution of Guru as a “blot on the face of Indian democracy.” “The country which claims to be world’s largest democracy hanged an innocent man without informing his wife and lone son,” Geelani said.
The Hurriyat (G) chairman said Kashmiris won’t bow before the ‘autocratic’ rule of New Delhi. “We will continue to strive for the right to self-determination. Guru’s hanging will become a source of inspiration for Kashmiris,” Geelani said.
On any possibility of broader alliance between the two factions of Hurriyat, he said since he was not able to move out of his room, the decision on the strategic alliance would be taken in Srinagar.
“Let me first reach Srinagar. Only then we can think of any alliance or a common minimum program (CMP),” he said.
Pertinently, Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq recently hinted at a strategic alliance between the two divided factions of Hurriyat.
He said strict restrictions have been imposed on his movement in Delhi. “I was not allowed to read newspapers that were sent to me through courier. I was not even allowed to offer Friday prayers. This is the height of restriction,” Geelani said.
The Hurriyat (G) chairman had called for three-day strike on February 9 against the execution of Guru which was later extended till February 15. Hurriyat (M) and JKLF had called for four-day mourning from February 9.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 15 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 16 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST