Srinagar deputy mayor arranged Hurriyat-Bondevik meeting

Srinagar: Controversial businessman and deputy mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Sheikh Imran, said he was instrumental in organising the meetings of former Norwegian PM Kjell Magne Bondevik with separatists and others in Srinagar last week on behalf of spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and that many more diplomats and politicians might visit the state soon.
“I along with a representative of (Sri Sri’s foundation) Art of Living coordinated the meetings with the Hurriyat, Bar Association, business chambers, Gujjar Bakerwal delegation and others. I want peace but not at the cost of aspirations and sacrifices of the people of the state,” Imran told ET.

He said that Bondevik had arrived at the Art of Living centre in Bengaluru and then flown to Srinagar. “There are many more to come. We shall not disclose it right now. I have to be tight-lipped right now,” he said.

Imran, who is embroiled in a loan default case with the J&K Bank through his business enterprise Kehwa Group, recently won the urban local bodies’ election as an independent councillor and was elected as deputy mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation with the help of the Congress. In March, he had conducted a programme, Paigham-e-Mohabbat, where he had invited Sri Sri to address a gathering of a few thousand people. However, the spiritual leader had to cut short his speech within a few minutes as some youngsters raised pro-freedom slogans alleging that they were bullied to attend the programme.

On Thursday, Imran said that he was hopeful that the latest initiative would gather mass as both Bondevik and Sri Sri were striving for a breakthrough. Bondevik also met some elected municipal councillors on his recent visit.

“I accompanied Sri Sri on his last visit to the UAE. The emirs welcomed us. They wanted him to create some happiness ministry there.

If he can work in Dubai, why not in Kashmir? Let the UAE also get involved in this initiative to make Kashmir liveable,” he said.