Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday justified curbs on movement of hardliner Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, saying his provocative speeches invariably lead to serious law and order problems in the Kashmir Valley.
"Whenever Geelani is allowed to address (a) gathering at any place, it is followed by largescale stone pelting and attacks on police and paramilitary forces, leading to serious law and order problem," a government spokesman said.
The spokesman cited four examples when the Hurriyat hawk was allowed to move out of his house and address gatherings, which led to stone-pelting incidents.
"On July 20, Geelani addressed a gathering at Verinag in Anantnag, which was followed by heavy stone pelting, forcing the government to escort him back to Srinagar," he said, adding that a similar incident took place on August 31 when he addressed an Eid congregation at Sopore.
On September 2, after his address at a Friday congregation at Masjid Baitul Mukaram in Baramulla district, the hardline Hurriyat leader took out a procession to general bus stand, which was followed by heavy stone-pelting.
Similarly, his address at Anantnag district town yesterday was followed by stone-pelting, the spokesman added. Criticising Geelani's shutdown call on September 6 and 7, the spokesman said such moves bring miseries to the people and threaten peace in the state.
"No government can allow antics of one person to result in law and order disturbances, which cause miseries and sufferings to general masses and adversely affect education of children and trade of business fraternity. In future, if any restrictions are put on the movement of Geelani, he and his actions alone would be responsible for this," he said.
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