Ceasefire a cruel joke: Separatists
TNN Bureau. Updated: 5/18/2018 10:30:52 AM
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SRINAGAR: Kashmiri Separatists on Thursday dubbed the ceasefire announced by the Centre "a cruel joke on the people of the Valley".
The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), a conglomerate headed by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, met at Geelani's residence to deliberate on the various dimensions of what they called "Operation Halt" announced by the Home Ministry.
A statement issued by the group said: "Operation Halt is a cruel joke with the freedom-loving people of Kashmir engaged in a legitimate movement for right to self-determination."
They also called for a shutdown on Saturday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the state.
The statement added that the people of the Kashmir Valley believe in permanent peace rather than a relaxation in killing for one month. People want a permanent halt to the war thrust on them by New Delhi.
The separatists called the Wednesday announcement "a ploy to hoodwink opinion both at national and international level".
Earlier, addressing a seminar at Rajbagh headquarters of the Hurriyat conference, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said: "Calling for strikes to register our protest is our compulsion. We shall soon come up with an alternate strategy of registering our protest."
Meanwhile, the Independent legislator from Langate constituency, Sheikh Abdul Rasheed, said today that activists of his outfit would show black flags to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the valley on May 19.
Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) will receive Modi with black flags so as to make the world community realise that India is not serious and sincere in resolving the Kashmir issue and also as a protest against police atrocities in the valley, Rasheed told reporters here.
He said his party would salute the prime minister if he offered unconditional dialogue with all stakeholders in Kashmir.
The legislator welcomed the Centre's unilateral ceasefire during the Muslim fasting month of Ramzan but warned of black sheep (in the police force) trying to sabotage it .