Says, Musical Concert has Political Dimensions
SRINAGAR: Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani Monday called for a complete shutdown on September 7, the day internationally acclaimed music conductor, Zubin Mehta is set to perform in Kashmir.
He also appealed people to stage peaceful protests after Friday prayers on September 6 against Mehtas concert which is being held at Mughal era Shalimar Garden and will be beamed live across many countries.
The octogenarian Islamist leader told a news conference here that Zubin Mehta show – Ehsaas-e-Kashmir (feeling of Kashmir) – is against the ground realities of Kashmir.
“Kashmir is place where rape has been used as weapon to quell uprisings against suppression. Kunan Poshpora, Jagirpora and Baderpayan are a few examples. Kashmir is place where Army has taken land from people and has occupied every tourist destination. Besides, on February 9, Muhammad Afzal Guru was hanged in Tihar jail secretly. We are still mourning it. We are seeking his body and you are holding a music show to present Kashmir as normal place to the world,” he said while justifying his strike call.
We had appealed chief organizer, the German Ambassador Michael Steiner to cancel the event, but there has been no response from him, so I appeal Kashmiri people, particularly students to hold demonstration after Friday congregations on September 6 while on the day of the event people should observe a complete shutdown and civil curfew, Geelani added.
The Hurriyat (G) chairman said the shutdown is not against any nation or person but We want to tell the world about the pain and oppression that we have undergone.
We want to tell the world that in a place where people mourn the death of their loved ones organizing music events is rubbing salt on their wounds, he said.
We have reports that Zubin Mehta is carrying forward the program of Israel. His agenda is to go to occupied nations and perform musical shows in order to hide the human rights violation and cover
occupation. However, we welcome all the people may they be Indians or Germans but Kashmir is a conflict zone. Our stand has always been clear that Kashmir being the most protracted conflict zone in recent history no international event of any nature be held in the region as that may dilute its disputed nature he added.
Geelani supported civil society move to organize a parallel program which is being organzied on the same day at a public park in the citys civil lines.
Responding to a question, Geelani said, Civil society has a genuine role in the freedom movement. If civil society organizes any protest in any form, it is in the interest of the movement. We have no problem with the program of civil society.
Pertinently Zubin Mehta is set to perform at the historic Shalimar Bagh in Srinagar September 7 and chief organizer German Ambassador Michael Steiner is confident that the program would go without a hindrance.
Civil society groups in Srinagar have announced to confront Zubin show with parallel music show, Haqeeqat-E-Kashmir, (the reality of Kashmir). The event will feature music, poems, paintings, performance art and photographs. The art and photographs would including pictures reflecting alleged human rights violation by security forces.
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