This Article is From Apr 19, 2014

Narendra Modi sent emissaries, claims Syed Ali Shah Geelani; BJP denies it

Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani speaks to supporters on his arrival in Srinagar from New Delhi on April 16, 2014

Srinagar: Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Friday claimed that BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had sent emissaries to him and the separatist leadership in Jammu and Kashmir to create a "soft corner" for him and making a "commitment" to seek a solution to the Kashmir issue.

Mr Geelani said the 'emissaries' were two Kashmir Pandits but did not name them.

However, he said he had no hopes of Mr Modi developing a "soft" policy on J&K and rejected their plea for talks with him.

"I told them that Modi is a RSS man and the torch bearer of its ideology. And being the leader of BJP, he will not adopt a realistic policy on Kashmir," he said.

The BJP, in its 2014 poll manifesto, had said it will consult stakeholders for the removal of Article 370 of the Constitution granting special status to J&K. (India Votes 2014: full coverage)

"Given BJP's position on Article 370 & AFSPA can we know who these NaMo emissaries were & what was on offer? Why the secrecy? (sic)" Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted.

The BJP has, however, rejected claims by Mr Geelani as "mischievous" and without any basis. The party said in a statement that no emissary had either tried to meet or had met Mr Geelani to discuss the Kashmir issue.

The statement said the BJP's stand that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India was very clear and that there was no room for deliberations on this.

The party had, time and again, condemned the negative role played by leaders such as Mr Geelani "whose politics is a threat to the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir", the statement said.
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