Sheikh refused weapon, money to launch armed struggle in J

Srinagar, Apr 28 (UNI) Criticising those who forced Kashmiri youths to take up the gun for their personnel interest, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) president Omar Abdullah today said his grand father Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah refused to launch an armed struggle when he was offered weapons and money in the 1960s.

Addressing a public meeting at Sher-e-Kashmir park here today, Mr Omar said Sheikh Abdullah was arrested in 1953 by the Congress government after his government was dismissed.

However, after his release in 1964, he went for the Haj. Later, he went to Algeria to attend a conference where leaders from United States, China and other countries participated.

Mr Omar disclosed that during the conference some leaders offered him weapon and money to launch an armed struggle against India.

However, before the Sheikh could take any decision he was taken to a grave yard by the Algerian President, ''I have lost my two sons and other youth of the country during the freedom struggle and if you (Sheikh) are ready to face such a situation, then only you should launch the armed struggle'', the Algerian president told Sheikh Abdullah, Omar said.

He said Sheikh Abdullah later decided to launch a peaceful struggle without handing over arms to youths.

''But, today those who forced our youth to take up arms are enjoying lavish lifestyles and they have big houses, cars and their sons are studying abroad and working in government offices. But the poor Kashmiri is being killed,'' he said.

Indirectly referring to the chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mr Omar said some leaders were members of the State Assembly when Sheikh was in jails, heading the struggle.

Without naming former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Omar said same leaders always deceived the NC in 1953,1975, 1984 and 1990.

He criticised the four-year coalition rule in the state and said no developmental work has taken place after the NC rule.

Mr Omar asked his party workers to prepare for the next assembly election.

UNI