92-year-old Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a giant of Kashmiri freedom struggle, uncompromising leader, the darling of the Kashmiri youth, a pricking thorn for India, passed away under house arrest for many years. Sikh political body Dal Khalsa pays a warm tribute to the departed soul, mourns his demise, expresses deep sympathies with his wife, children, thousands of followers and condemns the forced state burial of the veteran leader in the middle of the night.

DAL KHALSA, in a statement, has expressed deep grief at the passing away of veteran Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and held the rulers in Delhi responsible for his slow death as he had been under house arrest since 2008.

Party spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said, ‘People in Punjab admired him for his vision and strong determination to fight against oppression and New Delhi’s hegemony.” 

“Geelani Sahib symbolised Kashmir’s freedom movement but earned respect outside Kashmir too, for which the people of Kashmir must feel proud,” reads the condolence message.

Dal Khalsa called him a friend of Sikhs and a staunch supporter of the ongoing peaceful struggle for Punjab’s independence through the right to self-determination. 

“We have had a long and close association with Geelani Sahib and the Hurriyat Conference,” said Dal Khalsa president Harpal Singh Cheema. Recalling his affinity with Sikhs, he remembered the words of the veteran Kashmiri giant, “Iss Sanjh Ko Banaye Rakhna hai -let’s maintain this unity” when they visited him in June 2015. 

Even while under house arrest, he was outspoken and in his video message which has gone viral, he is heard telling the security forces to open the doors of his locked house, saying, “Darwaja kholo, hindustan ki jamuriyat ka janaza nikl rha hai. -Open the door and let me witness the funeral procession of Indian democracy.”

Coming down heavily on the Indian government for snapping the internet, clamping curfew, imposing restrictions on media, and peoples movement, including not allowing them to participate in their leaders’ last rites, party spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said by indulging in quick burials and cremations, India will not be able to hide the truth in Kashmir for long.

Undoubtedly, a veteran has passed away, but his mission lives on!