SRINAGAR: Reporters and photographers waited for more than an hour outside separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s residence in Hyderpora area of Srinagar, before all-party delegation members Sitaram Yechury, D Raja and Sharad Yadav arrived.
The graffiti painted by Geelani on the wall of his house last month read Go India, Go Back. Photographers joked that the ideal picture would be of the leaders walking past the art.
A police van, complete with a makeshift facility for the men to lie down and make tea and snacks, stood next to the gate of the house.
Yechury was the first to come out of the white Ambassador as journalists surrounded him. He walked past them towards the green gate, followed by Raja and Yadav. However, a man peeped out of an opening in the gate and told the leaders that Geelani would not meet them.
Reporters called up their bureaus to inform them of the development. Policemen on duty, including some top cops escorting the delegation, decided to wait and watch.
Talking to journalists, Yechury said the visit was part of an outreach to end the ongoing turmoil, while Raja said they wanted to hear what the separatists had to say.
{{/usCountry}}Talking to journalists, Yechury said the visit was part of an outreach to end the ongoing turmoil, while Raja said they wanted to hear what the separatists had to say.
{{/usCountry}}As the leaders started to leave, local residents gathered at the spot and spoke to them.
One asked Yadav why the government hadn’t released the separatist leaders if they wanted to talk to them.
“Talking to Omar Abdullah or Mehbooba Mufti is of no use. Talk to the separatists if you want to hear the actual thing,” one shouted.
As the cavalcade tried to move out of the lane, slogans of “Go India Go Back” and “Hum Kya chahte? Azadi” reverberated in the air.