Syed Ali Shah Geelani says 'Insaniyat' slogan is 'lip service'

SRINAGAR: Hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani today termed as "lip service" the slogan of " Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jamhooriat" of Atal Bihari Vajpayee which was invoked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Katra yesterday while talking about development of Jammu and Kashmir.

The separatist hawk said the meaning of 'Insaniyat (humanity), Kashmiriyat and Jamhooriat (democracy)' change on reaching Kashmir" and that these elements are being "suffocated" in the Valley.

Geelani also termed as "wrong and meaningless" the Prime Minister's remark that Jammu and Kashmir is 'Mini-India', claiming that the state is a "separate entity".

He said though the brotherhood among the people, irrespective of their religious beliefs, is the hallmark of Jammu and Kashmir for centuries, but terming the state as "mini-India" is against the history and ground realities.

Modi had made the remarks in Katra in Jammu during his public address after inaugurating 230-bed Shri Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital.