Fri. Mar 29th, 2024
By Ishan Singal (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Syed Ali Shah Geelani resigned on 19th March as Tehreek-e-Hurriyat’s chairman. The man who will be replacing him is Ahraf Sehrai who was elected during the party’s executive committee’s meeting.

Geelani though will continue as the head of the Hurriyat Conference. Geelani is one of the main separatist leaders in Kashmir. He has been extremely outspoken about his support of the separatist movements in the Kashmir valley. He has also been in the view of the National Investigative Agency’s probe into terror financing cases in Kashmir.

The assumption is that Sehrai will one day succeed Geelani as the head of the Hurriyat Conference in the future. Geelani has been blamed by Omar Abdullah for the rise in militancy and violence in the Kashmir valley. furthermore, he has been the MLA of the Sopore constituency in Jammu and Kashmir three times in 1972, 1977 and 1987. The 88-year old has also been urged by Farooq Abdullah to tread on a path that might save Kashmir from destruction.

Geelani held the post of chairman for 15 years since the party formed after the split in the Hurriyat Conference in 2003. He is also the founder of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat. Geelani has been in the news several times for calling shutdowns and strikes when suspected militants were killed. he has also been charged with sedation in 2010. Geelani has argued in the favour of self-determination rights for Kashmir and also talked about a possible union with Pakistan. He is reputed for his ‘anti-India’ activities as well but has been explicit in stating that Kashmir is not an enemy of India and doesn’t hold grudges against its inhabitants. He has also advocated actively for the release of Kashmiri prisoners from Indian prisons.  What this change in power and position signifies will only be seen and felt in the future, moreover what this change signifies for Kashmir.

By Sahitya