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| After Geelani, Aasiya in witness box | | Why has Sher-e-Kashmir been exonerated? | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Jammu, Aug 18: If Hurriyat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani is condemned for sending his son outside for seeking education, how can Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah be exonerated for a similar sin? The debate has evoked interest since last evening after reports about Aasiya Andrabi's `intention' of sending her son abroad for education came to fore.
Geelani has been time and again questioned about his son's education at a `safe place' by media persons. Geelani is known for his oratory skills. He has been seeking peoples' involvement in the struggle for the past two decades in particular. Geelani has found it very difficult to defend his decision of sending his son outside for education at a time when twenty persons died every day on an average basis in Kashmir.
The elderly leader has been trying to justify his decision. According to him, the on-going movement was a `voluntary' movement. "Nobody can be forced to join it. Those who are in the field with guns in their hands came forward on their own. The stone pelters of today are also in the field on their own. Nobody forced them to pelt stones."
Geelani's argument, however, has failed to impress his critics. Questions about his son's education still continue to haunt him. The `controversy' came to fore once again yesterday when a story about Aasiya Andrabi's son was carried by a section of the press. Aasiya's son, Muhammad Bin Qasim, it may be mentioned, has filed a petition in the high court through his maternal uncle seeking travel documents. In the petition he has submitted that he needed a passport for seeking education in Malaysia. Aasiya has issued the necessary clarification but like Geelani she also finds herself in the witness box.
Sher-e-Kashmir dominated Kashmir politics for fifty years. When a strong movement for self-determination was in full swing under Plebiscite Front banner, Sher-e-Kashmir sent his sons to England to pursue degrees in medicine. Nobody questioned Sher-e-Kashmir because he was too `rude' to be confronted.
"Geelani on the other hand is soft. People write against him, ridicule him and criticize him. He never reacts", said his close aid. "Ironically, former Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah also accused Geelani of sending his son outside for education. When Sher-e-Kashmir took Kashmiris to altar, Farooq was in England having a nice time", he said.
The incumbent Chief Minister has also brought up the issue last month. "Perhaps he is not aware that this precedent was set up by none other than Sher-e-Kashmir", he made clear. |
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