'Emissary' row: Mirwaiz Umer Farooq slams Syed Ali Shah Geelani

Srinagar: Hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's claim - about meeting 'emissaries' sent by BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi -- and his allegations against moderate separatists has triggered a feud between prominent Kashmiri separatists. (Narendra Modi sent emissaries, claims Syed Ali Shah Geelani)

While the BJP has rejected Mr Geelani's claims as mischievous, his allegations -- that some separatists are toeing a pro-Modi line -- has rattled separatist groups, who are now accusing the hardliner of creating a vicious atmosphere.

Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference, slammed Geelani for making such a statement. (India Votes 2014: full coverage)

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"Geelani is working against the interest of Kashmir. We have given our blood for the cause of Kashmir.  He has no right to make these irresponsible statements.  We want to make it absolutely clear that he is creating a vicious atmosphere. I don't know whom he wants to get killed, who his next target is," said an angry Mr Farooq.

On Friday, Mr Geelani had claimed that two of Mr Modi's emissaries -- both Kashmiri Pandits -- met him in Delhi on March 22 and proposed talks with the BJP leader towards making a "commitment" to seek a solution to the Kashmir issue. (Narendra Modi sees sweeping winds of change in Jammu and Kashmir)

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"I told them that since Mr Modi is an RSS man and has taken oath on the RSS ideology, he would not be ready for a realistic approach on the Kashmir issue.'' Mr Geelani said.

While Geelani did not name the 'emissaries' who met him in Delhi, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was quick to question his secrecy on the issue and asked him to identify the emissaries.

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''So who is lying, SAS Geelani or the NaMo campaign? Easy way to find out -- let SASG identify the emissaries who met him on behalf of NaMo," Mr Abdullah tweeted.

While the BJP has rejected Mr Geelani's claim as mischievous and based on a falsehood, the mention of Mr Modi has triggered an open war between the Valley's two top separatist leaders. (At Narendra Modi's Jammu rally, BJP dilutes stand on Article 370)