Srinagar: Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani yesterday announced a boycott of the central government's interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir and appealed to residents not to meet them.
Addressing the media at his Hyderpora residence, where the octogenarian separatist leader was put under house arrest immediately on arrival from Delhi on Sunday, Geelani said: "The Indian government has rejected our five-point demands and, therefore, we have nothing to do with the team of interlocutors appointed by New Delhi."
"I also appeal to the people not to meet the interlocutors and boycott their visit," Geelani said.
Although policemen were deployed outside Geelani's residence, no mediaperson was prevented from entering his house where he spoke to them.
Geelani also issued a fresh protest calendar beginning Thursday.
The protest calendar calls for shutdowns and protests up to November 8, barring Thursday, Friday, November 2 and 4.
Geelani also spoke about the forthcoming visit of US president Barack Obama to India.
"When last time a US president visited India, the Indian security forces killed Sikh villagers in Chattisinghpora," he said.
"We apprehend that they can do anything [similar] around the US president's forthcoming visit to India," Geelani said.
He was also asked about the gradual defiance of his shutdown and protest programmes by the people in the Kashmir Valley which has been reeling under unrest since June 11 with 110 people having lost their lives in firing by security forces.
