J&K govt running short of options, patience

SYED ALI SAFVI

SRINAGAR, June 27: Caught in a dilemma over Syed Ali Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference’s protest programme, the state government seems to be running both short of options and patience.

After the state government partially failed to ensure satisfactory attendance in government offices in wake of separatist sponsored strikes in the valley, the government today went a step further and ordered closure of schools and colleges for two days, apparently to upset the Hurriyat’s student protest programmes.

Significantly, Hurriyat Conference (G) had urged the male and female students to hold protest demonstrations against the “Indian occupation” on June 28 and June 29 respectively.

Senior Hurriyat Conference (G) leader, Masrat Alam, had announced the conglomerate’s fresh protest calendar on June 24.

According to the official handout, issued here this evening, director school education Kashmir, ordered that all schools and colleges would remain closed on June 28 and June 29, 2010 in Kashmir division.

Interestingly, Hurriyat Conference (G) also deferred the June 28 protest programme to June 29, and June 29 protest programme to June 30.

The recent spate of killings in the valley had prompted the chief minister, who is already feeling the hat, to call a meeting of ministers and senior civil and police officers yesterday. Reeling under pressure, Omar refused to talk to media persons at the prize distribution function of Mughal Rally 2010 at Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) this evening.

Meanwhile, both factions of Hurriyat Conference today urged the people of state to march towards Sopore tomorrow.

A meeting of Hurriyat Conference (M) was today held at Mirwaiz Manzil rajouri Kadal here to finalise tomorrow’s programme.

According to the finalised programme, chairman Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, would lead the march to Sopore from Srinagar, while senior Hurriyat Conference leaders, Aga Syed Hasan Al-Mosavi Al-Safvi, Bilal Gani Lone, Moulvi Masroor Abbas Ansari and Nayeem Ahmad Khan would lead the protest march from Budgam, Kupwara, Mirgund, and Pattan, respectively.

Hurriyat Conference (G) leader, Masrat Alam, today said that Indian troops had to vacate Kashmir “in all circumstances”.

“Draconian laws like AFSPA can not dilute the passion for freedom in our hearts,” he said, adding that it was high time for Indian troops to “pack their bags and leave the state”.

He asked the people to write the slogan “Go India Go back” on all walls at lal Chowk.

Appealing the people to make ‘Sopore chalo’ call successful, he asked people to show “your resentment against Indian occupation.”

He condemned the slapping of public safety act (PSA) on senior Hurriyat Conference (G) leaders, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai and Ayaz Akbar.

Meanwhile, university of Kashmir (KU) also postponed its examinations, which were to be held on June 28 and June 29.