Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 5: Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s obituary reference to Syed Ali Shah Geelani has drawn severe condemnation from Panun Kashmir (PK), as articulated by Dr. Ajay Chrungoo, chairman of the organization. This move is seen as deeply hurtful to the exiled Kashmiri Pandit community and a stark reminder of the suffering Geelani’s ideology inflicted upon them.
Geelani, a known pro-Pakistan Islamist, persistently advocated for Jammu and Kashmir’s secession from India under the guise of the “right to self-determination.” However, Geelani’s version of this right was selective and exclusionary. When questioned publicly by Panun Kashmir sympathizers about whether he would extend the same “self-determination” to communities like Kashmiri Pandit Hindus, Shias, and Dogras, Geelani emphatically refused, making his stance clear at a conference in Delhi before prominent intellectuals, including Ram Jethmalani: “No, absolutely not.”
Throughout his career, Geelani utilized India’s democratic institutions solely to further his Islamist agenda, positioning himself in direct opposition to inclusive democratic values. When the Indian State faltered in Kashmir in 1989, Geelani’s intentions became tragically evident, culminating in the genocide of the indigenous minority, the Kashmiri Pandits, whose forced exile remains unresolved decades later.
Dr. Chrungoo emphasized that Geelani’s actions extended beyond rhetoric. His legacy includes leading funeral prayers for al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, a gesture that underscored his support for extremist forces and cast a shadow over any expectations of peace and reconciliation for the Pandit community. “To honour a man who has been intricately linked with extremist ideology and terror is to trivialize the pain and trauma of genocide survivors,” Dr. Chrungoo remarked.
Dr. Chrungoo concluded by calling this acknowledgment a consolidation of genocide, a farce in the name of reconciliation, and a step backward for those seeking justice and recognition. Panun Kashmir urged the Government to reconsider how it addresses figures associated with terror, as these gestures risk perpetuating harm rather than fostering healing.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel