SRINAGAR: The moderate faction of separatist alliance Hurriyat Conference has denied that its senior member made comments that could have sparked a fresh war of words with the hardline faction.
Maulana Abbas Ansari, leader of the moderates led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, had told a local news agency, CNS, that hardline separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s poll boycott campaign will benefit the pro-India National Conference party.
He said ending Mr Geelani’s nine month-long house arrest earlier last week, and allowing him to address a huge rally in Sopore town after that, was “according to a plan” by the ruling NC.
Mr Geelani’s spokesman did not react saying Mr Ansari’s comments were never taken seriously by them.
But a spokesman of the Hurriyat (M) has insisted that Mr Ansari’s comments were presented out of context.
He said they believe that Mr Geelani’s Sopore rally was no threat to peace and hoped that the government would no longer confine him.
The CNS, however, said it stood by its news report.
