Modi did not want to meet Geelani: BJP

Embarrassed by the claim of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani that prime ministerial aspirant Narendra Modi had sent emissaries to have a meeting with him on the Kashmir issue, the BJP on Saturday categorically denied it and demanded an apology from him.

The party termed Geelani’s claim as “baseless and mischievous and said that no representative of the Gujarat chief minister has ever met the separatist leader. “We would like Geelani to apologise for making this false and unfounded statement,” party spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad told reporters.

Geelani had said that two Modi emissaries (Kashmiri Pandits) had approached him on March 22 and had told him the prime ministerial candidate would be willing to meet him “directly or indirectly” to seek a solution on the Kashmir issue. Geelani also claimed he had rejected the offer due to Modi’s RSS background.

“The BJP would like to emphasise that the said claim is totally baseless, unfounded, mischievous, malicious and full of prejudices against the BJP. We would like to highlight very clearly and categorically and with full sense of responsibility that no representative of Modi has ever met Geelani,” Prasad said.

He also clarified the BJP’s stand on the issue. “The BJP firmly believes Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the BJP is committed to development of J &K where good governance is the biggest casualty and where corruption has led to loss of development and progress,” he asserted.

The Congress has, however, demanded a clarification from Modi. “Geelani hasn’t given any explanation. Someone was sent to Geelani but he refused looking at Modi's past and after what he has done in the past, we cannot hold talks with him. It’s Modi who is answerable,” Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal said.

The JD(U), which is fighting a fierce battle against the BJP, also jumped in and alleged that Modi is politicising the issue.

 “Modi is ready to talk on any topic from animals and birds, to the issue of Kashmir. He is an expert in taking up issues and politicising them,” JD(U) spokesperson K C Tyagi told reporters.