Chidambaram says police will act over Geelani’s speech
In a major face off between the government and the main Opposition BJP over Jammu and Kashmir, home minister P. Chidambaram on Friday rejected the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley’s remark that the Centre “chose to look other way” at a time when Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani talked about “azadi” at a function here on Thursday.
Rejecting Mr Jaitley’s remark, Mr Chidambaram said the Delhi police will take action in accordance with law over Geelani’s speeches.
“I strongly reject Arun Jaitley’s charge that the Centre was doing nothing when a seminar was held on Thursday in which Geelani and others participated,” home minister said in a statement.
Taking strong exception to demand for secession of Kashmir by Geelani and other Kashmiri separatists at a seminar, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley criticised Centre for not taking any action against such people.
“It is shocking that the Central Government chose to look the other way while unacceptable views were aired in the name of freedom of speech,” Mr Jaitley said.
He accused the seminar organisers and participants of “promoting sedition”.
Mr Jaitley said a group of separatists held a seminar to promote sedition “under the nose of the government” which has stunned the nation. “In a democracy, the right to secede cannot be accepted in the garb of right to free speech. The right to free speech enshrined in the Constitution cannot be used against the country,” Mr Jaitley said.
He accused the Centre of abdicating its duty to protect the unity and integrity of the country by allowing the function to take place in which anti-India voices were raised. However, home minister P. Chidambaram said authorities have videographed the entire proceedings of the seminar and have submitted them to the legal advisers for opinion whether there has been a violation of the laws.
“If it is established prima facie that the laws have been violated, Delhi police will take action in accordance with the law,” the home minister said.
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