Hawk Geelani says he’s ‘sole’ azadi leader, then apologises

But sensing that such a call could undermine the united front — separatists, traders, industrialists and civil society organisations — formed after the Amarnath land transfer row in June, Geelani, within hours of his speech, called a hurried press conference to apologise.

“It was a mistake,” he said, “no person is bigger than the movement”. The apology assumes significance since Geelani’s themes today were an echo of his traditional “Islamist” stand on Kashmir. He also welcomed the exit of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf who, he said, had betrayed the cause of Islam and Kashmir.

But Geelani’s immediate withdrawal of his controversial public statement — this is the first time he has done so — is also a pointer to the mood in the Valley where protests have gone beyond the land transfer and the “economic blockade” to calls for “azadi.”

But, clearly, it once again exposed the deep ideological fissures in the separatist camp between Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik.

While Geelani bases his separatist struggle entirely on the premise of “Islam, seeking Kashmir’s merger with Pakistan”, Malik’s separatist politics stands for “an independent, secular and united Jammu and Kashmir”. Mirwaiz, meanwhile, takes the middle route and does not necessarily have a rigid political manifesto even as his Awami Action Committee party and constituency in downtown Srinagar are staunchly in favour of Pakistan.

Earlier, the flow of people into Srinagar from across the Valley began early this morning, especially as the Government decided to allow the procession, after Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Kachu Asfandyar Khan and Senior Superintendent of Police Syed Ahfad-ul-Mujataba met and convinced the separatist leadership to change their programme from assembling at the UN office to holding a rally in the neighbouring Tourist Reception Grounds. By 10 am, all roads surrounding the TRC grounds were choked with protesters shouting separatist slogans.

Groups from political, business and social organisations represented in the Hurriyat-led Coordination committee — Geelani, Mirwaiz and Yasin did not accompany them — were allowed to go to the UN office where they submitted a memo asking UN Secretary General to intervene in Jammu and Kashmir. It also called upon India to take effective measures in giving the people of the state the right to self-determination.

JKLF leader Yasin Malik was the first to arrive to azadi slogans: “Is paar bhi lenge azadi, Us par bhi lenge azadi,” (freedom on this side of the LoC, freedom from across as well). When Hurriyat moderate leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq appeared, the crowd began shouting pro- Pakistan slogans. When Geelani arrived, it was 3 pm and he was the last to speak. “We demanding a right of self determination. This is our human and democratic right and we have given every sacrifice to attain our goal,” he said. “We demand that the United Nations sends its delegation to Kashmir to listen to this demand of people. People want a complete withdrawal of Indian troops from here and a referendum under the auspices of the United Nations”. Geelani lashed at the media too. “The Indian media is part and parcel of India’s war machine so we want international press to visit Kashmir and report the truth. People here are demanding their basic rights,” he said.

Geelani then gave the resignation of Pak President Pervez Musharraf his own twist. “I want to give you a good news,” he said. “For the past eight years, a military general of Pakistan has been damaging the entire Islamic nation. He harmed Pakistan. He destroyed the Kashmir cause to save his chair. Today he has resigned. Pakistan’s public has rejected him,” he said. “We are demanding from Pakistan’s rulers, political leadership and Pakistan’s people that Pakistan had been created for the sake of Islam and it should be used only for Islam. Socialism, secularism and America’s world order cannot work there. Only Islam must work there,” he said. “Through the relationship of Islam, we are all Pakistanis and Pakistan is ours”. Then he shouted: “Hum Pakistani hain. Pakistan hamara hai (We are Pakistani and Pakistan is ours).”

“Till now the choice of a leader (of the separatists) could never been made,” Geelani said. “Today, I am asking you whether you trust me. Do you trust Syed Ali Shah Geelani to lead this movement?” he said and asked the people to raise their hands. “I promise you to work for the domination of Islam and will carry everyone along”.

After the rally concluded, the Hurriyat moderates immediately issued a statement that separatist leadership is not the sole right of one person. “It is a joint leadership,” the moderates insisted. JKLF, however, didn’t issue any statement. JKLF leader Yasin Malik sees the sudden surge in pro-Pakistan slogans as the Geelani camp’s effort to dominate this latest wave of separatism and bring religion and Pakistan to the centrestage.