J

Srinagar, Aug 13 (UNI) Accusing the Jammu and Kashmir government of giving free rein to security forces to kill unarmed peaceful processionists in Kashmir, chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani today said maximum restraint was being observed in Jammu where muslims and Kashmiri drivers were being targeted by Hindu fundamentalists.

The Key to restoration of peace in Jammu and Kashmir is with the government of India, Mr Geelani said.

Mr Geelani told this to spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of Art of Living Foundation, who called on him at his Hyderpora residence today.

He said the government has ordered security forces and police to kill the processionists in Kashmir who wanted to march towards Muzaffarabad in a peaceful manner.

'' If the security forces in Jammu were asked to exercise maximum restraint why not in Kashmir,'' he said.

Mr Geelani said people wanted to cross the ''blood line'' drawn by India to reach '' Azad Kashmir'' (PoK) which is part of Jammu and Kashmir.

''We want to cross into the area which belongs to us,'' he informed Guru Shankar.

He said there were incidents when people damaged some roadside vacant bunkers but that does not justify direct firing by security forces and police at other places. They could have rebuilt these bunker again but the lives lost in the firing could not be changed, he said.

''Why no direct firing was opened in Jammu where a police station was burnt, hundreds of Muslim Gujjar structure reduced to ashes and Kashmir fruit trucks looted and driver beaten by the communal forces.'' Mr Geelani said no Kashmiri is against the Amarnath yatra or people of other faiths.

About the recent agitation, he said people were agitated after the government allotted land to a non-state subject people which was ''not acceptable to us at any cost.'' He said communal forces in Jammu forced an economic blockade and wanted to divide the state on communal and regional lines.

''Let them hold a plebiscite to know what the people of Jammu and Kashmir wanted,'' he said.

About the restoration of peace in the state, he said the key to peace was with the government of India and they had to make sincere and serious efforts to address the Kashmir issue to resolve it once and for all.

UNI BAS RL AS1932