The late separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani is among the former legislators to be remembered in the Legislative Assembly during the obituary reference scheduled for Tuesday.
The Speaker will honour the memory of deceased former lawmakers, including Geelani and Devender Singh Rana, BJP leader and younger brother Jitender Singh Rana, MP and Minister of State with independent charge in PMO. He was elected from Nagrota constituency in Jammu.
Geelani, who passed away in 2021, represented the Sopore assembly segment three times in the J&K Assembly, winning elections in 1972, 1977, and 1987.
As a prominent separatist leader in Jammu and Kashmir, Geelani was a defining figure in the region’s politics for decades. He is known for his staunch pro-Pakistan stance and unwavering advocacy for Kashmir's right to self-determination. Born in 1929 in the Sopore district, Geelani began his political journey with the Jamaat-e-Islami and later became a central figure in the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), which he helped form in 1993 as an umbrella coalition of separatist groups.
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Geelani’s political career in the J&K Legislative Assembly was marked by his election from Sopore in 1972, 1977, and 1987. However, his stance evolved over time as he grew increasingly disillusioned with electoral politics, especially after the alleged rigging in the 1987 elections, which is often cited as a trigger for the armed insurgency that began soon after.
Despite being confined under house arrest for much of his later years, Geelani remained influential, issuing statements and directives that shaped separatist sentiments and actions across the region. His steadfastness in calling for a merger with Pakistan and opposition to dialogue with India set him apart, earning him both support and criticism. Geelani was awarded Pakistan’s highest civilian honour, the Nishan-e-Pakistan in 2020 in recognition of his lifelong commitment to the Kashmir cause.
He passed away on September 1, 2021, after a prolonged illness, at the age of 91. His death marked the end of an era in Kashmiri separatist politics, and his legacy continues to resonate, making him a significant figure in the obituary references of the J&K Legislative Assembly.