The hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference today condemned the arrest of its leader Masarat Alam, saying such measures "will not weaken our resolve" though it has created a vaccum.
"Arrests and other things are part of our struggle for right of self-determination," chairman of the hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani said in a statement.
He said while on one hand there are talks about initiation of dialogue and release of political prisoners, but on the other the arrest of political leaders is continuing unabated.
"Alam is a prominent political personality and was actively participating in overground activities but the government is presenting his arrest in such a way as he was a militant and had gone underground," the Hurriyat leader said.
He said "Alam evaded arrest at the hands of police for sometime in the interest of the ongoing struggle. Police should treat him as a political leader."
Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the faction said Geelani will participate in a seminar on Kashmir in New Delhi on Thursday.
