Farooq Abdullah demands probe against Syed Shah Geelani, other separatists

Union Minister Farooq Abdullah Sunday demanded a probe into what he said collections made by Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other separatists in the name of youths killed in last year's summer unrest in the Valley and rebuilding the gutted Chrar-e-Sharief shrine.

"Investigation should be conducted by the Income Tax department into the huge money collected by Geelani and other separatists in the name of boys killed in 2010 unrest and rebuilding the Chrar-e-Sharief shrine," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

"When the shrine was burnt, Geelani blew the bugle not to accept government money for its construction. But where is Rs three crore collected by him? He has not given the account about it," the National Conference chief said.

Targeting Geelani, the Minister for New and Renewable Energy said "what is he telling people? When boys were killed last year, money was collected. Where is the money? This must be investigated."

Alleging that the separatists were getting money from undisclosed sources, Abdullah said the authorities had failed to dig out these.

"We all know that they (separatists) are getting money from all over. Hawala money is coming. We are unable to trace all those Hawala people to this day. Money is coming. It is flowing like anything," he said.

Asserting that separatists have no future as Jammu and Kashmir is not going to go anywhere, the NC president called for creating a space for them.

"This state (J&K) is not going to go anywhere. They (separatists) want a space. We (politicians) should create that space for them to function within national politics."

On senior BJP leader L K Advani's proposed Rath Yatra, Abdullah said "he had earlier undertook a similar yatra for construction of a temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi. Till today, the temple has not been constructed. God knows what is this yatra all about."

He ruled out that the recent Delhi blast would derail the Indo-Pak dialogue saying "talks have been held and will continue in future too".

Abdullah refused to answer any question related to Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. "I am not going to say anything on this".

On Congress leader Digvijay Singh's comments that Anna Hazare was an RSS mask, he said "I have nothing to say on this."