Tribune News Service
Srinagar, November 30
Urging the people to boycott the elections, the separatists in Kashmir have called for a “complete” shutdown on December 2, as the state goes to polls for the second phase of the Assembly elections.
“Boycotting elections is a duty cast upon us...The parties that seek votes from us justify Indian’s hold over Kashmir,” Geelani said in his statement, while urging people in Kupwara, Lolab, Handwadra, Langate, Nooabad, Kulgam, Hoemshalibugh, Devsar, Poonch, Karnah, Mehander, Surankote and other areas, which are going to the polls on December 2 in the second phase, to boycott the elections and observe a complete shutdown in these areas.
Geelani also condemned police crackdown on his activists and youth across the length and breadth of Kashmir, claiming that the authorities have detained more than 4,000 persons, including youth, in the wake of the ongoing Assembly elections.
Geelani also alleged that today a police officer visited his Hyderpora residence and asked him to wind up the relief operations which his group has started to provide succour to flood-hit people of Kashmir.
In a statement issued here, while terming the elections as a “meaningless exercise”, moderate Hurriyat chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq appealed to the people in Kupwara and Kulgam districts to observe a complete shutdown on December 2 and stay away from the booths.
“Kashmir is a living reality. The elections conducted in the state since 1947 neither could alter its disputed status nor could be elections termed as a substitute for right to self-determination,” the statement from the Hurriyat said.