Separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani"s Request for Passport Sparks Political Row in Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar:  Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s request for a passport has become a new pinprick in ties between the People’s Democratic Party and the BJP, which co-govern Jammu and Kashmir.

 

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has said that she will make sure the hardliner gets a passport; Mr Geelani had applied for a passport to be able to travel to Saudi Arabia to see his daughter, who will soon have a surgery.

 

“I believe that no government can, on humanitarian grounds, deny a father the right to meet his daughter,” Ms Mufti said today.

 

Sources say the BJP-led central government is unlikely to reject Mr Geelani’s request. Mr Geelani is reportedly in the “prior security clearance” category  and the home ministry and the foreign ministry has to decide jointly with the state government on his request, say sources.

 

Mr Geelani was granted a passport for a year in 2011, but he failed to get a US visa. This time he and his family have applied online but sources say he has not given his biometric details, which are essential.

 

The BJP’s unit in Jammu and Kashmir, however, says Mr Geelani should first “apologise” for his anti-national activities if he wants an Indian passport.

 

“It is Mehbooba Mufti’s view that Geelani should be given a passport, but there is no change in BJP’s stand, he has remained anti-national so he must not be given a passport at all.” said Arun Gupta, the state BJP spokesperson.

 

The opposition National Conference is on the same side as its rival PDP on this. But in a series of tweets, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticized the ruling coalition for turning it into a political issue.

 

“What’s the big deal? Geelani declined to avail a passport in 2011 so why is Mehbooba suddenly trying to appear as some sort of crusader?” Mr Abdullah said in one tweet. In another, he remarked: “I completely fail to understand why BJP would object to Geelani calling himself an Indian unless this is a PDP-BJP fixed match!!!!”