We will take action over Geelani's speech: PC

Rejecting Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arun Jaitley's allegations, Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday said the Delhi police will take action in accordance with the law over the speeches made by Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and others at a seminar on Thursday.

"I strongly reject Arun Jaitley's charge that the Centre was doing nothing when a seminar was held in which Geelani and others participated," he said in a statement.

Chidambaram said the authorities have videographed the entire proceedings of the seminar and have submitted them to the legal advisers.

"If it is established prima facie that the laws have been violated, the Delhi police will take action in accordance with the law," he said.

Chidambaram was reacting to a hard-hitting statement by Jaitley in which he had accused the government of 'looking the other way' when a number of separatist groups met at a conference to 'instigate secession'.

"This is against the sovereignty and integrity of the country and anyone exercising his right of speech in such a manner comes under criminal law. It is an offence against the state," the BJP leader said. Chidambaram said it was not correct to say that the government was keeping quiet over the issue.

At the convention on 'Azadi -- The Only Way', Geelani shared the stage with writer Arundhati Roy and pro-Maoist leader Vara Vara Rao among others. Geelani was heckled by the audience with one of them throwing a shoe at him.