Geelani claims Modi’s emissaries met him over Kashmir issue; BJP demands proof

NEW DELHI: The BJP has rubbished separatist leader SAS Geelani’s claims that Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi had sent emissaries to him to discuss the Kashmir issue and asked him to either substantiate his claims with evidence or apologize to the people.

Terming Geelani’s claims as a “bunch of lies with a malicious intent”, deputy leader of the BJP in Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad strongly denied that Modi had sent two people to start a dialogue with the separatist groups on settling issues related to Kashmir. Geelani’s claim, made on Friday, has come at a time when most opinion polls have predicted that the BJP-led NDA is likely to form the next government at the Centre.

“The BJP strongly condemns the mischievous, false, motivated and completely irresponsible statement by Geelani that two alleged representatives of Modi had met him. We categorically deny that anyone for or on behalf of Narendra Modi ever met Geelani,” Prasad said.

BJP also condemned the manner in which some Kashmiri leaders, including those holding important offices, are reportedly “encouraging such lies” to serve their political interests.