WASHINGTON (IslamOnline) - The Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid, Ahmed Bokhari, has attacked All Parties Huriyyat Conference leader Ali Shah Geelani for allegedly advising the mujahideen to not accept Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Ramadan ceasefire.
In an interview, Bokhari said that Geelani is "creating trouble" by urging Hizb ul Mujahideen to reject the offer.
Imam Bokhari who has recently stepped up efforts for peace in the Kashmir valley, stating that Indian Muslims are detached from the Kashmiri leadership because of the leadership’s close relationship with Pakistan.
He said, "We could not have a rapport with them precisely because of their links with Pakistan,” adding that, “they must all understand that this is the main reason why Muslims in the rest of India come out in lakhs [hundreds of thousands] to support issues like Chechnya and Bosnia, but prefer to remain indoors when it comes to Kashmir."
Bokhari commented, "We are accused of terrorism, of being ISI agents with all kinds of charges being hurled at us because of developments within Kashmir," he said, making the point that Muslims outside Kashmir also have an interest in an early settlement of the problem.
He also urged Kashmiris to "get Kashmir out of Pakistan's framework. If you don't, then we are not with you."
In a separate development, ultra right-wing Shiva Sena members in the upper house of India’s legislature staged a walkout on Wednesday over the Indian government’s Ramadan ceasefire.
