The Hindu : Geelani may form separate group

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 26, 2003

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Geelani may form separate group

Srinagar May 25. Differences in the Hurriyat Conference has become sharper after the Jamaat-e-Islami decided to replace its firebrand leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, on the executive committee of the amalgam. There are indications that Mr. Geelani would form a separate group.

The decision to replace Mr. Geelani was taken by the Jamaat-e -Islami "Amir" (chief), Ghulam Mohammed Bhat, who, in his letter to the Hurriyat chairman, Abdul Gani Bhat, said that Mr. Geelani would be replaced by Sheikh Ali Mohammed on the executive committee, decision making body of the amalgam.

The health of Mr. Geelani, who was recently released by the Jammu and Kashmir Government, was cited by the Jamaat as the reason for replacing him. Commenting on the Jamaat chief's claim, Mr. Geelani said ``this talk of my not keeping good health is baseless. In fact, I am keeping away from the Hurriyat as it has failed to take action against the People's Conference, which indirectly contested the last Assembly polls.''

Asked if he was satisfied with the functioning of the Hurriyat, Mr. Geelani said: ``Since my release from jail, scores of people have met me and are still coming here...not a single person has expressed satisfaction with the way the Hurriyat is functioning.''

Mr. Geelani did not rule out the possibility of forming another group parallel to the Hurriyat and said ``if the need arises, I will consider it.'' The issue of forming a separate group was expected to take some time, as some of the hardline supporters of Mr. Geelani, such as Ashraf Sherai, Yusuf Muzahid and Mansoor Alam, were still in jail under the Public Safety Act.

Mr. Geelani said the United Nations resolution was only for Kashmir's annexation with India or Pakistan and the third option of an independent Kashmir was never there.

Meanwhile, the People's Conference representative in the Hurriyat and elder son of the slain Abdul Gani Lone, Bilal, refused to be drawn into any controversy, and said the replacement of Mr. Geelani was an internal matter of the Jamaat. — PTI

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