The Hindu : Geelani calls for poll boycott

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 31, 2004

National

National

Geelani calls for poll boycott

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, MARCH 30. A senior leader of the Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference was arrested by the police here on Monday night, prompting the faction to give a call for boycotting the Lok Sabha elections in Kashmir.

Ghulam Nabi Sumji, chairman of the Muslim Conference, a constituent of the Hurriyat, was arrested from his party office at Rajbagh and lodged in the local police station.

Following the arrest, the Hurriyat chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, addressed a hurriedly-convened press conference and blamed the Government for resorting to "repressive measures against freedom-loving people."

He alleged that the statements of the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, before assuming office that no arrests would be made on the basis of political affiliation had proved to be a hoax. "It was just to lure people and grab power," he charged.

Mr. Geelani said the arrests were being made to prevent the leaders from asking people not to associate themselves with the electoral process. "We are not scared of arrests but will continue to fight for people's rights."

He asked the people to boycott the elections as, according to him, "these have not solved any problem in the past. The elections are not a substitute for the right to self-determination."

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