For the last three decades, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who has been the face of Kashmir’s separatist politics announced his resignation today from Hurriyat Conference, the biggest separatist amalgam in Kashmir. Sources say Mr Geelani had been facing criticism from groups in Pakistan for what they called his failure to respond to the government’s move of ending special status to Jammu and Kashmir under the constitution’s Article 370. Since then, the veteran Hurriyat leader had been silent.
In an audio message, Geelani said: “In view of the present situation, I resign from All Parties Hurriyat Conference. I have informed all the constituents of the Hurriyat about the decision.”The 90-year-old was a lifelong chairman of the Hurriyat.
This marks a major development for separatist politics in Jammu and Kashmir after the government ended its special status under the constitution’s Article 370 in August last and split it into two union territories.