Geelani’s resignation biggest benefit of Article 370 rollback: Avinash Rai Khanna

SRINAGAR — Barely a few hours after Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani parted ways from the “Hurriyat forum” on Monday, top BJP leaders while welcoming the move, said that the aged leader’s resignation was the biggest benefit of Article 370 abrogation.

BJP’s national vice president and Jammu and Kashmir affairs in-charge, Avinash Rai Khanna said that the resignation announced by the veteran separatist leader Geelani is one of the biggest benefits of Article 370 rollback.

“People of Kashmir have started reaping the benefits of Article 370 revocation and today’s decision by Geelani is one of the biggest outcomes of the Government of India’s move of scrapping the special status,” said Khanna, adding that BJP welcomes this decision.

Even though Geelani cited a volley of reasons for quitting as the chairman of the amalgam that include promoting drug mafia in Kashmir by some people who are sitting across the LoC and involving a large number of youth into it, the BJP leaders have cashed in on the development, saying it was the outcome of abrogation of Article 370.

J&K BJP’s General Secretary Organization, Ashok Koul, termed Geelani’s decision of quitting Hurriyat forum as “better late than never.

“He has been an active MLA of the then Legislative Assembly and knows the benefits of democracy. He may have realized that by following secessionist ideology has paid him. Hope all others will follow suit in future,” he said.

Sources said that BJP will sell Geelani’s decision to justify rollback of Article 370 as the party had claimed the historic decision of August 05 will help end separatism and secessionist ideology in Kashmir.