Omar now sings separatist tunes; supports Geelani

Srinagar, Nov 24: For the first time ever, a mainstream political party in Jammu and Kashmir has supported a separatist organisation over a particular issue.

National Conference (NC) president Omar Abdullah has supported the general strike call given by breakaway Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Geelani tomorrow in protest against a Jammu and Kashmir government's decision to lease out land at the world famous tourist resort of Gulmarg to non-state subjects (outsiders).

Mr Abdullah said the issue pertained to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and they have raised serious doubts over the matter while the state government has failed to clear those.

''The issue pertains to the people. So, it does not matter who has given the call,'' the former Union Minister of State for External Affairs said.

Mr Abdullah said his party would hold demonstrations against the government decision in Tangmarg tomorrow.

The NC chief, who was scheduled to address a rally in Kupwara tomorrow, has decided to convert that public meeting into anti-land lease protest.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) has also supported Mr Geelani's strike call.

In a statement to the local media, LeT spokesman Abdullah Ghaznavi said his group supported the strike call and appealed to the people to make it successful.

''Outsiders should be refrained from entering into any kind of agreement with the state government,'' he added.

UNI

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