The Hurriyat, led by Syed Ali Geelani, on Saturday suspended the membership of National Front chief Nayeem Khan after his name emerged in a sting operation by a Delhi-based TV channel allegedly admitting to the funding of street protests by Pakistan.
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“Though Mr. Khan has raised questions over the veracity of the video, the membership will remain suspended in both parts of Kashmir until the clarification of all related issues come to fore. It is my moral duty and I am obliged as a supreme head to fulfil assigned duties,” Mr. Geelani, 86, said.
However, he accused television channels of being “biased” and serving as “mouthpieces of fanatical forces”.
Describing the street protests in Kashmir as “spontaneous”, Mr. Geelani said, “Sensational stories about money transactions are baseless. It is a deliberate attempt to mislead the international community. No doubt Pakistan is a prime party to the issue and supports us on political and moral grounds. India cannot implicate the indigenous movement,” Mr. Geelani said.
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“We need resources to combat the military might of India and mostly we raise all funds from local sources to pursue our movement,” he added in a statement.
Earlier, the police disallowed a meeting of the Hurriyat to deliberate on the issues arising in the wake of the sting operation. Sources said there was growing pressure within and outside the Hurriyat to take action against Mr. Khan.
Mr. Khan addressed the media in Srinagar and described the sting operation as “fake and doctored”. “My statement has been used in bits and pieces. I demand the entire video should be made public. It is a bid to defame our struggle,” said Mr. Khan, whose party is a key constituent of the Hurriyat.
Restrictions in Srinagar
The authorities on Saturday foiled the scheduled commemoration programmes to be chaired by Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on his father Mirwaiz Moulvi Farooq’s death anniversary.
The Mirwaiz said he was placed under house arrest and large parts of Srinagar was brought to a standstill by “heavy security restrictions”.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti paid rich tributes to the late Mirwaiz and Abdul Gani Lone, whose death anniversary too falls on May 21.