Sameer Showkin Lone
Srinagar: This time the doors at the residence of Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani were not closed for the Indian delegation led by former BJP minister Yashwant Sinha.
The development comes just two months after shutting doors to a group of some seasoned sitting parliamentarians of India (from Opposition camp) who had gone to meet Geelani, but the door at Geelani’s residence was closed for the delegation prompting them to move back with great disappointment.
Now with protests losing a momentum, Geelani, according to sources, today morning met former BJP minister Yashwant Sinha led delegation to Kashmir. Sources said that Sinha led team soon after landing at Srinagar airport drove straight to Geelani’s Hyderpora residence, where he is under house arrest.
Sources said the team also met Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, at his Nigeen residence. Mir was released from sub-jail Cheshmashahi and has been placed under house arrest.
The five member delegation which includes former bureaucrat Wajahat Habibullah, who has served in Jammu and Kashmir, ex-Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak, journalist Bharat Bhushan and activist Sushobha Barve. Soon after landing in Srinagar, the delegation drove straight away to Geelani’s residence in Hyderpora, where he found the doors open and not closed.
Sinha, a senior BJP leader, who was external affairs Minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s cabinet, however, said his team members are also expected to meet other separatist leaders.
Sinha said he and other “people of goodwill” will try to “meet all” during their visit to the valley that began on Tuesday. “We came here for humanity. Our motto is to share the grievances and pain (of Kashmiri people). I hope the state of unrest will be resolved soon,” Sinha has said.
The delegation will also meet Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Governor N.N. Vohra. (PTK)
