Yasin Malik accuses Hurriyat leaders of amassing huge assets

Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik has stoked a controversy by accusing the leaders of moderate Hurriyat Conference of amassing huge assets in the name of "freedom movement", a statement dismissed as "baseless" by a constituent of the conglomerate.
Mirwaiz Omer Farooq, heading the moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference, dismissed the allegations saying "they do not merit a comment".
Malik issued a statement here yesterday after he could not speak at a seminar on the 24th anniversary of Iranian spiritual leader Imam Khomenei at Kashmir University organized by one of the Hurriyat constituents.
"They (moderate Hurriyat leaders) have acquired palatial houses and other benefits under the garb of freedom movement. They claim to lead the freedom movement and also protect the interests of India as well," Malik alleged.

He said these leaders have invested in construction of shopping malls the money amassed from the separatist activities.
"How do they claim to represent the peoples' aspirations?" the JKLF chairman said and accused the Hurriyat leaders of double speak.

"The Hurriyat Conference (led by Mirwaiz) is preaching the teachings of Hussain (grandson of Prophet Mohammad) under the umbrella of injustice, which is nothing but double speak," Malik said.
Anjuman Shahr-e-Shian dubbed the statement of Malik was 'irresponsible' and 'devoid of political maturity'.
"Malik's statement and baseless allegations (against the leaders of the Hurriyat) were totally against our expectations", it added.