Srinagar, Sept 15: After successfully engineering a split in the Hurriyat Conference, fire-brand Jamaat-e-Islami leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani today took over as chairman of the rebel faction supported by 12 members of the erstwhile amalgam's general council.
"On the insistence of the general council over the past few days, I have accepted their unanimous decision to make me chairman of the Hurriyat Conference," Geelani told reporters at his Hyderpora residence after the rebels met this morning, asking him to take over the reins of the separatist group.
Geelani said though he was not interested in posts and positions as he would have continued with his mission otherwise too, the deposed Hurriyat leadership had been given enough chances to take the movement forward but they had failed.
"They had enough time but they failed. People are well aware of the track-record of those who have been accusing us of being traitors," he said in response to remarks made by former Hurriyat chairman Abdul Gani Bhat.
Bureau Report