Srinagar: Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Tuesday called for boycott of municipal elections, likely to be held in May, in Jammu and Kashmir.
"The government attempts to cover its human rights violations in the state with these elections," the chairman of the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference said.
"We, therefore, appeal to the people to completely boycott the municipal elections," Geelani told reporters at his Hyderpora residence where he remains under house arrest.
The dates for municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir are yet to be announced but the government has indicated the same will be held before the onset of summer.
Hurriyat`s previous election boycott calls have failed to evoke any response as large number of people participated in Panchayat elections held last year and assembly elections in 2008.
The Hurriyat hardliner said their previous boycott calls failed because the government did not allow them to campaign and meet the people.
Asked about the invitation to him by the Pakistani government to visit their country, Geelani said he had no passport. "How can I travel..?"
PTI
