Hurriyat says it is not against Zubin Mehta

SRINAGAR: The hardline Hurriyat Conference, headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, on Wednesday said it was not against renowned orchestra conductor Zubin Mehta but maintained holding a cultural programme in Kashmir could affect the status of "the disputed territory".

"Kashmiris do not oppose German Ambassador (Michael Stenier) or Zubin Mehta. However, they do have genuine grievances that no serious efforts are being made to understand and mitigate their pains and sufferings," amalgam spokesman Ayaz Akbar said.

He said they had appealed to the German Ambassador to review the proposed cultural programme.

"The Hurriyat in a statement had made it clear that Kashmir is a disputed territory and any move on political, diplomatic, cultural or other related activity will affect its status," the spokesman said.

Lashing out at national media, he said "Delhi-based newspapers and TV channels are biased in their reporting. In a bid to distort real situation, they portray it as if the people of Jammu and Kashmir are intolerant."