Chief Minister is Salman Rushdie of Kashmir: Kashmiri hardliner

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Oct 4: Hardline Kashmiri leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani says the pro-Indian chief minister of Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad is the Salman Rushdie of Kashmir.

During a function in Srinagar recently, the chief minister of Kashmir said that while Islam secures life hereafter, the Gandhian philosophy of truth and non-violence was apt for success in the contemporary world. "Whatever we've learned from religious books and scholars, helps us in our hereafter but to succeed in the contemporary world we need to follow the Gandhian philosophy," Azad said.

The hardline Kashmiri separatist leader, Syed Ali Geelani termed Azad's assertions as anti-Islamic. "The chief minister used the official machinery to stage drama on the Gandhi Jayanti day in Srinagar. Thousands of students and teachers were forced to assemble in the venue by the administration and administered oath to follow Gandhi philosophy", Geelani said.

Criticizing the chief minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, for holding a big function in Srinagar on Gandhi Jayanti Day, Geelani alleged that the administration had forced the students and teachers to attend the function. "They were threatened of dire consequences in case they remained away from the function", he said, adding, "This function was held to give wrong impression to the world that people in Kashmir adhere to Gandhi's philosophy".

Stating that Azad's assertions are unacceptable to Muslims, Geelani said that Islam is the complete way of life and one who follows it achieves success in the world and hereafter. "The assertions of Azad are totally un-Islamic and have hurt the sentiments of Muslims of Kashmir and across the world", he said, adding, "It is shocking that chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has come with such anti-religion remarks and given priority to Gandhian Philosophy. The remarks should be condemned by one and all," Geelani added.

"It is binding on every Muslim to follow the path shown by Prophet Muhammad (SAW). If a Muslim moves away from the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), he or she is not a Muslim and should not use the Muslim name", he said, adding, "Islam is complete religion for the world and hereafter".

Lambasting the chief minister, Geelani said that by his un-Islamic assertions, he has brought himself in the category of Salman Rushdie and Tasleema Nareen. "He is the Salman Rushdie of Kashmir and it would be better for him (Ghulam Nabi Azad) to change his name to Ghulam Gandhi Bhat", he said, adding, "The statement given by Azad can only be given by a person who is not a Muslim and follows any religion other than Islam".

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.

   _   _