Unrest in Kashmir has not affected education, instead it has blossomed, says Geelani

Hardline Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Saturday claimed that the ongoing unrest in Kashmir, which has seen schools remaining shut for more than 100 days, has not "affected" the education but instead it has "blossomed".

They (rulers) feign empathy and concern for our children and their education, while they blindly go on "presiding over their murders and maiming". They say the education of our children has suffered; but let us tell our people that our education has not suffered but instead blossomed, he said in a letter addressed to the people of Kashmir.

The 87-year-old Hurriyat hawk had planned to address a rally but was stopped by authorities as he is under house arrest.

Geelani said people of Kashmir, especially the children, have been "educated over the past 100 days".

He, without naming Education Minister Naeem Akhtar, lashed out at the latter, saying demonstrations of students across Kashmir are a "slap on the faces of the collaborators who want to use our children as a tool to crush the uprising".