Syed Ali Shah Geelani declines to speak on Kashmir

The decision of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani to back out from India Today Conclave has surprised the people as well as other separatist leaders of Kashmir Valley.

Calling the decision of Geelani as ‘unwise and irrational’, Democratic Liberation Party Chairman Hashim Qureshi told IBNS that it was a ‘golden opportunity’ for Geelani to highlight the problems of Kashmiris.

“What is wrong in attending such an elite forum? Syed Ali Shah Geelani must change his mind set and strategy and they way he is looking at the things could lead us nowhere,” Qureshi said.

Jamat-e-Islami chief Shiekh Mohammad Hassan termed this decision of Geelani as his personal one.

“I was surprised but can?t comment over this,” Hassan said.

Former Hurriat Chairman and president of Muslim Conference, Professor Abdul Gani Bhat said that he is surprised why ‘Geelani Sahib’ changed his mind though he had at first agreed to participate in this Conclave.

“I respect him a lot. It is his personal decision. Whether Geelani will participate or not, nothing is going to happen and nothing is going to change,” Bhat told IBNS.

IBNS spoke to few youths too in this regard and all claimed that it needs ability and guts to speak at such a forum.

“This kind of negative approach is not encouraging. It needs guts and ability to deliver and you know Geelani is not an orator,” said Mudasir, a law graduate.

Pertinently,Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani was invited to speak on the Kashmir dispute in the two-day high profile India Today Conclave themed ?The Changing Balance of Power? scheduled to begin from March 18 in New Delhi.