Pro-Pakistan separatist Syed Alishah Geelani on Saturday urged religious clerics to exercise their influence to make people boycott the bye-election for the Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir in April.
In a statement, Geelani stressed that now is the duty for our religious clerics and intellectual class to apprise people about the negative aspect of these elections and make them understand that any kind of vote or support tantamount to betrayal with those who lost lives and eyesight during unrest in Kashmir last year.
Reiterating boycott call for upcoming bye-election, Geelani said that people in Kashmir are striving for right to
self-determination.
Participation of a few people in these elections never means any political decision regarding Kashmir issue, however if the contesting parties are desirous to ascertain people’s verdict about the political destiny of state, then not a single person will cast his vote in their favour, nor they will find a single poling agent for their parties, said Geelani.
Referring to those contesting these elections, Geelani in a sweeping statement alleged they are involved in scandals like corruption, sex rackets, embezzlements and soon as they get into power corridors, promote liquor trade, immodesty and impertinence.
Ridiculing the state administration, Geelani said, soon as bye elections were announced, the separatist leaders were detained and were prevented from meeting people.