A day after chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed promised action against hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Geelani over Pakistan's flag unfurling, the aging separatist on Sunday claimed only party flags were unfurled in the Tral rally.
"Workers and activists of the Hurriyat only waved the party flag in public rallies but some enthusiastic youths raise Pakistani flag at such moments, which is not new in J-K. This flag also bears the symbol of crescent and a star, but this similarity is just a coincidence," said Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar.
There were reports of Pak flag being unfurled in south Kashmir's Tral area during a rally addressed by Geelani on May 1. The chief minister on Saturday promised action against those involved in it like in the Masarat Alam case.
However, the hardline Hurriyat leader cited the state high court judgement of 1983, which, according to them, does not categorise waving of Pakistani flag as crime.
"Hoisting of the flag doesn't amount to the waging of war against any country. The position of India and its agencies is so weak in Jammu & Kashmir that merely a waving of cloth puts their occupation in acute danger," said Akbar.
"Mufti Sayeed Sahab is well aware that hoisting of Pakistani flag is the routine in Jammu & Kashmir since 1947," he added.
He claimed that winning of cricket match by Pakistan make politicians like Farooq Abdullah and people related to the PDP happy.
"Mufti Sayeed Sahab is well aware that hoisting of Pakistani flag is the routine in Jammu & Kashmir since 1947," he added.
He claimed that winning of cricket match by Pakistan make politicians like Farooq Abdullah and people related to the PDP happy.
"We understand compulsions of Mufti sahib. He surrendered all his election promises and claims," he added.
The Hurriyat spokesman also criticised the statement of PDP leader Nayeem Akther where he said "Geelani should shun this kind of politics, which endangers the peace of the state."
"The 'ideological battle' slogan of PDP rulers is exposed in the public and they too are following the same policy of Omer Abdullah regarding Geelani sahib," said Akbar.