Mehbooba Mufti, a former chief minister and the president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said on Monday that the treatment meted out to the body of veteran separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani was uncalled for, and that while one can fight with a living person, one cannot treat a dead body indifferently.
In an interview with the media, Mehbooba stated that the videos and news reports showed that the people of Jammu and Kashmir were dissatisfied.
“You can fight with a person while he is living, but once he is dead, you must respect the body as others do,” she remarked.
In response to a question concerning the charges brought against Geelani’s family for raising chants and covering his body with the Pakistani flag, she stated that India is the world’s most democratic country, and that these matters are not minor. She claimed that the government should have allowed the family to perform Geelani’s final rites according to her desires.
Mehbooba stated that while she disagreed with Geelani, the dead body should not be treated with indifference, stating that “what we have seen was against humanity.” Everyone’s final wishes must be honoured. The act occurred in violation of India’s cultural identity.”
She also stated that no one can make people love or loathe a leader by holding a pistol to their head.
The Chenab Times News Desk