Case registered against separatist leader Masarat Alam for raising Pak flag at Srinagar rally

Srinagar: Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geeelani on Thursday held his first public rally here after the 2010 summer unrest as his supporters waved Pakistani flags and chanted pro-Pakistan slogans. Besides the Hurriyat flags, some supporters were also seen carrying Pakistani flags as they chanted pro-Pakistan and pro-freedom slogans.

Masarat Alam, released from jail last month, raised pro-Pakistan slogans and others waved Pakistani flags. Geelani, who returned here after spending winter months in Delhi, was taken to his residence from the airport in a procession led by Alam against whom state Police registered a case under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

BJP, alliance partner of PDP in Jammu and Kashmir, reacted sharply to this with Minister of State for Home Kiran Rijiju saying that the state government had been asked to act against those who had broken the law.

Taking a swipe at BJP, Congress if it was so concerned with the development, it should walk out of the alliance.

Alam, who was released last month soon after PDP-BJP government came to power in the state, led the march from the Srinagar Airport to Geelani's residence at Hyderpora. Geelani, who broke away from Hurriyat Conference to form his own conglomerate with all pro-Pakistan separatist parties as a part of it, spoke about right of self-determination and his speech was broadcast live in Muzzafarabad in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK).

"This (broadcast of Geelani's speech) has been done with arrangement with a semi-government organisation in PoK," Hurriyat Conference spokesman Ayaz Akbar said. There were some anxious moments when slogans were raised in support of 45-year-old Alam besides pro-Pakistan and Geelani slogans. He is being talked about being successor to Geelani.

Talking to reporters, Alam rejected the suggestions that he was indulging in unlawful activities.

"We are only promoting the aspirations of the people of Kashmir. Look at their enthusiasm," he said apparently referring to the group of youth waving Pakistani flags.

Addressing the gathering, the Hurriyat hawk said Kashmir was not a border dispute between India and Pakistan but the issue of one crore people of the state.

"We will not accept status quo and our struggle to achieve Right to Self-Determination will continue. We will not accept Shimla agreement or Lahore declaration," Geelani said.

Geelani said Kashmiri Pandits were welcome to return to Valley, but "the people of Kashmir will not accept the division".

"Pandits are our brothers. They are welcome to return but they will have to live at their native places. Separate colonies are not acceptable to us.

"The government has said they will give Rs 20 lakh to each Pandit family. We are telling them to provide the Pandits Rs 30 lakh to built their houses, but only at their native places," he said.

The Hurriyat chairman said Muslims and Pandits have lived together for centuries and want to live in peace and harmony.

"Humanity should not be divided on the lines of religion, caste or creed. We will not accept any division," he said.

Geelani said RSS wants to change the culture of the state and there was a need to aware the people about their designs.

"The RSS wants to change the culture and traditions of Kashmir. We will soon organise a seminar to make people aware of the motives," he said.

The separatist leader demanded release of all political prisoners and repeal of all "black laws" like Armed Forces Special Forces Act (AFSPA) and Public Safety Act (PSA).