100 days on, Geelani seeks ways to keep unrest going

SRINAGAR: As the Kashmir unrest has crossed 100 days, hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani has sought suggestions from a cross section of the society seeking

SRINAGAR: As the Kashmir unrest has crossed 100 days, hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani has sought suggestions from a cross section of the society seeking the way forward.

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Geelani has written to other separatist groups, traders, transporters, bar association and members of civil society to know “how to continue the ongoing struggle”.

The move from the seniormost separatist leader of the Valley comes at a time when life in the Valley continues to remain disrupted even after 101 days, following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen leader Burhan Wani on July 8.

However, of late, a sense of fatigue seems to have set in. Auto-rickshaws and small passenger vehicles have started plying on the roads despite the shutdown calls and shopkeepers, in some areas, have started to open the shutters of their shops.Private vehicles are also seen on the roads.

Schools and colleges, however, still haven’t reopened. Prominent businesses and markets open only when separatists issue relaxation in the evenings.

Along with Geelani, moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Yasin Malik have been jointly issuing the protest calendars.

While Mirwaiz and Malik have been in police custody, Geelani, who has been under house arrest, is the only one to issue the protest calendars on behalf of the others as well. The latest protest calendar has been extended to October 20.

Moderate Hurriyat led by Mirwaiz, Kashmir High Court Bar Association and Business fraternity have not yet responded to Geelani’s letter.

Moderate Hurriyat leader, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat said that they have forwarded Geelani’s letter to Mirwaiz, who is in jail. “The letter was addressed to him and he will take the call over the issue,” he said.