Geelani has sense of realisation: Mufti

Srinagar, Dec 17 (UNI) Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today lavished praise on firebrand separatist leader and breakaway Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, saying he has a ''sense of realisation''.

Addressing a news conference here, he said Mr Geelani raised his voice against the state government's proposed decision to lease land in the world famous tourist resort of Gulmarg.

Though the state government had made it quite clear that the land at Gulmarg will be leased out to state subjects only, Mr Sayeed said Mr Geelani still raised his voice against the proposed move.

''That means he has the realisation. Jammu and Kashmir enjoys certain special rights and so do its people. Under these rights, no outsider can purchase the land in the state.

''There are certain things which we can get in future but there are some which we have at present and cannot do away with...and cannot surrender. These things should be protected...and we want guarantees for that,'' the former Chief Minister added.

Mr Sayeed said Mr Geelani has the realisation that there were certain things which need to be protected and safeguarded.

''He (Mr Geelani) has his own stand which he propagates and comes on roads for those. The Constitution provides him with the freedom of thought and freedom of expression ,'' he added.

Mr Sayeed, who is also the patron of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a ruling coalition partner in Jammu and Kashmir, returned here on Friday after more than a month long visit to the United States. He had left here for the US on October 28 at the head of a non-official Indian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

During his stay in the US, besides addressing the UNGA, he also interacted with US think tanks and non-resident Kashmiris from both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) to build consensus over the PDP's self-rule formula for peaceful and amicable resolution of the long-festering Kashmir issue.

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