Centre starting 'farce of engagement': Syed Ali Shah Geelani

SRINAGAR: Hardline Hurriyat Conference Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani today accused the Centre of starting a "farce of engagement" to divert attention from Kashmir saying it has been shaken by the resolve of Kashmiris to achieve their "goal".

Rattled by the united struggle for "freedom", India has once again started the farce of engagement that it time and again had used to divert attention from the reality on the ground here.

"They will come again to ask what do we want. They know the answer to that question. We want freedom," Geelani said in a five-page statement.

The Hurriyat hawk, who has been under house arrest for most of the time this year, issued the statement after police prevented journalists from entering his Hyderpora residence for a press a conference.

Geelani alleged that the government had a "kill list" of leaders and warned that any such "misadventure" will have serious repercussions.

He thanked Pakistan for its support and several other countries for expressing concern over the prevailing situation in Kashmir.

The Hurriyat chairman also expressed gratitude to countries like China, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, New Zealand and Iran and to the Organization of Islamic countries (OIC) for expressing concern over the "brutal repression by India in Kashmir".