Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar Sep 06 (KINS): Criticising the authorities for the filing of a first information report over the draping of Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s body in a Pakistani flag, former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti Monday claimed that authorities did not even spare the dead.
Talking to reporters here according to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS), Mehbooba said what happened to Syed Ali Geelani on his death has hurt the people.
“You should have given respect to the dead body. You can fight with a person when he is alive, not with a dead person. We could have differences with Geelani sahib but his last rites should have been allowed as per his wishes. He had wished to be buried at a particular place. If you don’t agree with a person that does not mean you will take revenge after his death at the barrel of the gun,” Mehbooba said.
Syed Ali Geelani, 91, died on Wednesday night at his residence in Srinagar after a prolonged illness. The body was laid to rest at a graveyard in a nearby mosque. His family said he had wished to be buried at the martyr’s graveyard in downtown Srinagar.
The PDP president said she had had differences with Geelani but he deserved a different treatment after his death. Criticising the filing of the FIR, Mehbooba Mufti also said, “In Kashmir even the dead are not spared. A family isn’t allowed to mourn and bid a final farewell as per their wishes. Booking Geelani sahab’s family under UAPA shows GOI’s deep rooted paranoia and ruthlessness,” she said. “Draping the dead in a particular flag is not big issue. Even a chief minister had wished to be draped in the flag of a particular party.”
The Budgam Police registered the FIR against unnamed people under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code, taking cognisance of a video clip which showed Geelani’s body draped in a Pakistani flag.
Mehbooba Mufti had offered her condolences on his demise, saying that she admired him for “his steadfastness & standing by his beliefs.” She wrote that while they had not agreed on many things, she was saddened to hear the news of his death. (KINS)
