Breakaway Hurriyat Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Wednesday blamed the Centre for refusing him travel documents to visit Pakistan to attend a three-day international conference on Kashmir in Islamabad, beginning Friday.
"I had applied for travel documents to visit Pakistan with the Regional Passport Office in Srinagar. I was keen to attend the conference in Islamabad. But, the government once again refused to issue travel documents to me," Geelani told a news conference.
"The government's claims of democracy in the context of Jammu and Kashmir are hollow and baseless," he added.
The conference has been organised by Pugwash, a European Nobel prize-winning think-tank engaged in finding solution to contentious issues in South Asia, at Islamabad from March 10 to 12.
"We are not expecting much from the Pugwash meet. We very well know who all are participating in it and what is their mindset, and the stand vis-à-vis resolution of the Kashmir issue. But, the conference would have given me an opportunity to meet and interact with the people and the leadership of Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir," he added.
