Unrealistic, ridiculous, political gimmick: Hurriyat on Mufti's poll remark

Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference on Monday labeled the controversial remarks of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on the conduct of assembly polls “ridiculous” and “unrealistic”. [caption id=“attachment_2131731” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Jammu and Kashmir CM Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. AFP[/caption] “As far as Hurriyat Conference is concerned, its entire leadership along with the hundreds of activists and associates were arrested some 45 days before the election drama and they were either jailed or placed under house arrest… they were denied any chance to reach out to the people and present their stand. “So commenting on any role of theirs (separatists) in the election is unrealistic and unfair and it is merely a political gimmick,” Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar said in a statement. Akbar termed Sayeed’s remarks as “ridiculous” and “unrealistic” in which he credited Hurriyat, Pakistan and militants for the success of the assembly elections in the state soon after taking oath yesterday. “The statement of Mufti sahib is same like a person who is held hostage, his hands and feet are tied, his mouth blocked (sic) and then he is thanked for his co-operation and silence,” he said. Commenting on Sayeed’s advice that the separatists should follow the path of Sajjad Gani Lone who broke ranks with separatists nearly a decade ago, Akbar said, “Hurriyat Conference is representing the sacrifices, sacred blood and aspirations of the people and they are not for power”. He said Sajjad is the son of a pro-freedom leader late Abdul Gani Lone but “he was never a part of freedom struggle. He was always carrying a different ideology”. PTI