Maqbool Bhat, Afzal Guru heroes of Kashmiris: Geelani

SRINAGAR: Chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Geelani has paid rich tributes to Mohammad Maqbool Bhat and Mohammad Afzal Guru on their anniversaries.

In a statement issued to GNS, Geelani while reiterating his demand for the return of mortal remains of both Bhat and Guru who are buried in the premises of Tihar Jail, Delhi, said though it is purely a human issue but New Delhi is reluctant to this demand thereby violating all the principles of morality and constitution. “In this way, its claim of ‘largest democracy in the world’ is getting badly exposed,” he said.

Geelani said Maqbool Bhat and Afzal Guru are heroes of Kashmiris who are proud of them.

“Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Bhat has a special status in the freedom struggle of Kashmir and if he can be termed as the first solider of the struggle then the Shaheed Mohammad Afzal Guru’s ‘last letter’ became a new milestone of the freedom struggle and set a new trend,” Hurriyat (G) chairman said, adding that Guru’s ‘last letter’ clearly depicts that he was an ideological person and his emotions were having the backing of faith, intellect and conscience.

“They are source of inspiration for us and the best way of paying tributes to them is that the nation should not forget these brave sons of the soil who had sacrificed their present for the future of the nation,” he said.

Geelani said that the best way of paying tributes to Maqbool Bhat and Afzal Guru is that “the nation should not forget these brave sons of the soil”.

Geelani said until the mortal remains of Bhat and Guru are not returned back to their families, Kashmiris will not let down this demand.

Meanwhile, Hurriyat Conference (G) condemned the arrest of its party spokesperson, Gh Ahmad Gulzar, saying this is the “highhandedness of the puppet regime to suppress the voice of the pro-freedom people”.

“All these arbitrary measures won’t deter us from pursuing our cherished goal,” Hurriyat (G) said.