In the light of rising public anger against Kashmiri separatists after the Pulwama attack, the government has decided to revoke the security cover provided to several Kashmiri separatist leaders. According to reports, security cover given to top Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been withdrawn. Others excluded from government security include Abdul Ghani Bhat, Bilal Lone, Hashim Qureshi and Shabir Shah, all prominent separatist leaders.
#JammuAndKashmir administration withdraws security of all separatist leaders, including that of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabir Shah, Hashim Qureshi, Bilal Lone & Abdul Ghani Bhat.
— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2019
On 15 February, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had announced in Srinagar that said the security provided to elements having links with terrorists will be reviewed. Referring to Kashmir based separatist activists, the Home Minister had said that “there are some elements here who take money from Pakistan and ISI. I have told the officers that the security provided to such people should be reviewed”. Rajnath Singh had said that separatists are hand in glove with terror organisations, terror forces & ISI across the border. They are involved in terror conspiracies too, he had added significantly.
In the last 10 years, the Jammu and Kashmir government has spent more than ₹10 crore in providing security to the so-called moderate Hurriyat leaders. Separatists who were provided security cover included Aga Syed Hassan Molvi, Molvi Umar Farooq, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat, Molvi Abbas Ansari, Bilal Gani Lone, Fazal Haq Qureshi, Mohammad Yasin Malik, Saleem Geelani, Zaffar Akbar Bhat, Shahid-ul-Islam, Abdul Gani Shah, Aga Syed Abul Hussain, Farooq Ahmad Kichloo and Masroor Abbas Ansari. The money is spent on the salary of policemen and transportation expenses.
After the horrific attack on a CRPF convoy done by Pakistan based Jaish-e-Muhammad, the government of India has undertaken several measures against Pakistan. The most favoured nation status accorded to Pakistan under WTO norms were withdrawn, and then customs duty of 200% was imposed on all imports from Pakistan. Government is working towards isolating Pakistan on the global front, the foreign secretary met envoys of more than 25 countries, including all 5 permanent members of UN security council in the regard. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also made a surprise visit to Tehran on her way to Europe, and there are speculations that India and Iran may launch a joint operation against Pakistan. 27 security personnel were killed in an attack in Iran by Pakistan based terrorists on February 13, for which Iran has promised to take strong action against Pakistan.
Update: Reacting to the news, many people had started questioning why security coverage of Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Yasin Malik was not withdrawn. But the fact is that at present there is no government security for these Hurriyat leaders, therefore the question of revoking their security does not arise.
Several people asking about SAS Gilani and Yasin Malik may note that neither enjoys any security cover or other facility from d government. Gilani is under house arrest.
— Ram Madhav (@rammadhavbjp) February 17, 2019
BJP National Secretay Ram Madhav tweeted to inform the same. He also informed that Geelani is under house arrest at present.
