Hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who spearheaded the 2010 summer rest, has decided to woo tourists this year with a ploy of propaganda: “to educate people of India about the Kashmir dispute.”
The Hurriyat has come up with pamphlets written in Urdu, Hindi and English welcoming tourists and wishing them good stay.
“I welcome you to sylvan and salubrious Kashmir valley. Whatever your faith, whatever language you speak and to whatever region you belong to, we are bound by a common bond, the bond of humanity. You are our honoured guest, respecting and protecting guests is not only our moral obligation but an article of faith,” says Geelani in the pamphlet.
“I want each tourist to be ambassador of Kashmir struggle and carry out message to mainland India,” said Geelani, who claims the Kashmir struggle has entered into a peaceful mode post 2008, when there was upheaval in the state over the Amarnath land row.
“Dear brother, your hosts are not terrorists or extremists. I and my fellow countrymen are not up in arms against any faith, belief, caste or creed. We nurse no grouse against people of India or for that matter any other country. Live and let live is the cardinal principle to our philosophy of brotherhood. And on this rationale we want to strengthen our relations with others. You must know that we have been coerced into servitude, same way as British had enslaved people of India,” says Geelani in the bill aimed at tourists, whose footfall has already crossed three lakh mark this year.
{{/usCountry}}“Dear brother, your hosts are not terrorists or extremists. I and my fellow countrymen are not up in arms against any faith, belief, caste or creed. We nurse no grouse against people of India or for that matter any other country. Live and let live is the cardinal principle to our philosophy of brotherhood. And on this rationale we want to strengthen our relations with others. You must know that we have been coerced into servitude, same way as British had enslaved people of India,” says Geelani in the bill aimed at tourists, whose footfall has already crossed three lakh mark this year.
{{/usCountry}}Most uptown Srinagar streets and tourists destination are abuzz with tourists this year. “You must know Jammu and Kashmir is not a part of India. It was never a part of India…The United Nations Security Council has passed as many as eighteen resolutions guaranteeing right to self determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” says the pamphlet.
Geelani’s (82) propaganda pamphlet has historical references in it with quotes from first Prime Minister of Independent India Jawaharlal Nehru. “India betrayed its own pledges and forgot its own commitments. It continues to occupy our land forcibly,” claimed Geelani.
This is for the first time that separatists are planning to reach out tourists as security forces’ measures and government firm steps have disallowed any handle to separatists to whip public emotion.
“We will deal as situation arises,” said a senior police officer insisting not to be named. Meanhwile, Geelani was put under house arrest for third consecutive Friday today and was not allowed to offer prayers with any congregation.