Minister of New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah on Saturday launched a scathing attack on separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani for raising objections to renowned conductor Zubin Mehta's Ehsaas-e-Kashmir' (Feel of Kashmir) concert in Srinagar.
"What is Hurriyat? Does it want to destroy Kashmir? Who is Hurriyat to oppose? Do they want Kashmir to become like Pakistan where people are killed every day?" asked Abdullah.
The National Conference leader further alleged that Geelani survives on the money from abroad and so does not care about the present situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Geelani gets money from abroad so he does not care. What will the poor do?" he asked.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also lashed out at the separatist groups for calling a strike against the concert, saying no one protested when Pakistani band Junoon performed in the city.
"These (separatists) people are selective. This is not the first music concert in Kashmir. If music is anti-Islam, against the issue of Kashmir, how come Junoon came and performed here," he said.
"Nobody raised any voices on that ... Then there should have been a shutdown for Junoon also," he told media yesterday after reviewing arrangements for Mehta's concert at Shalimar Mughal Garden on the banks of Dal Lake .
Geelani, who has called for a strike against the concert, has said that Zubin Mehta's musical concert is politically motivated than being a cultural show.
"India under this garb intends to convey a distorted picture of ground realities in Kashmir," he added, while briefing the international media about the ground realities in Jammu and Kashmir.
The separatists claim that holding of Mehta's concert in a 'conflict zone' will change the nature of Kashmir dispute.
Some locals have welcomed Geelani's strike, and said that the call for shutdown was warranted.
"The call for shutdown given by Kashmir separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani is justified. The show that is being organized at Shalimar Garden should not happen," said Bilal Ahmed, a resident of Srinagar.
Another resident of Srinagar, Majeed Ahmad, said ;"When we talk about the culture of Kashmir, among the people of the valley, cultural tolerance is embedded. We are not against singing and dancing but in the present scenario the way issues are raised, it is against the Kashmiri culture," he said.
The concert is being organised by the German Embassy in collaboration with the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir Government.
German Ambassador to India Michael Steiner, who is hosting the concert before a specially-invited audience of 1,500 guests, yesterday attempted to downplay the ongoing controversy surrounding Mehta's concert, and said let the music play.
"Just one thing, 'Let the music play'," Steiner said.
In Kashmir Valley, all arrangements are in place for today's mega musical concert by Zubin Mehta. The authorities have beefed up the security around the venue following threats by several militant outfits.
Mehta, who is facing opposition from separatists and threats from little-known militant groups ahead of his music concert, had yesterday said music is the message of peace.
"I didn't choose Kashmir, Kashmir chose me. Music is the message of peace, music only brings peace," he told media in New Delhi after receiving the 'Tagore Award for Cultural Harmony' from President Pranab Mukherjee.
Mehta also sought blessings of the people ahead of his much awaited concert on Saturday.
"I am extremely happy for my country having honoured me this way. I hope we have the blessings of the whole country for our music tomorrow," he said.
Mumbai-born Mehta will conduct Munich's Bavarian State Orchestra before an estimated 1,500 guests, including ministers and diplomats.
Mehta, 77, will share the dais with several local musicians.
