SRINAGAR: Senior pro-India politician and former Member Parliament, Abdul Rashid Kabli on Friday said octogenarian separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani is “as innocent as a lamb”, but added the government was using him as a tool to enforce election boycott in Kashmir.
Mr Kabli, who is a member of the recently formed United front formed by seven political parties, has questioned the spontaneity of Mr Geelani’s release from a nine month-long house arrest earlier this week.
“National Conference (led government) has released him in a planned way. Election Boycott is the conviction of Geelani, but unfortunately, it helps those people to grab the power who pursue anti-people policies and suppress our youth,” Mr Kabli said.
Other pro-India political parties like the ruling NC and opposition Peoples Democratic Party have also raised doubts about Mr Geelani’s release, each saying his poll-boycott campaign will help the other.
Mr Kabli said “People are puzzled how and why Geelani was allowed to go to Sopore when every time Government considered him as a threat to peace. I don’t doubt Geelani, but he should also realize that NC wants him to keep people away from electoral process.”
He has appealed to Mr Geelani to “understand the criminal attitude of the Government and stop election boycott drive.”
