Public convergence at TRC grounds on August 18 in response to Hurriyat's march to United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) office at Srinagar became a defining moment for separatist leadership in Kashmir to show off their strength. Seeing the crowds rallying behind separatist call that saw administration in disquiet, it was a complete win-win situation for the erstwhile disarrayed separatist leadership.

The newfound separatist unity that was conspicuous by the presence of hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani, moderate Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and pro-independent Yasin Malik sharing the dice was fast emerging as the face of renewed resistance from the Himalayan state. In the run off of huge public presence, other leaders from the separatist camps too were speaking in unison.

Earlier rally called to commemorate slain Hurriyat leader Sheikh AbdulAziz at his hometown in Pampore in south of Srinagar, proved a success after people boarding the vehicles from other districts reached thereand registered their presence.

Hurriyat got the feel and started calling the shots. March to UN call followed and it attracted sea of people. Much that even surprised the separatist leadership. Carried away by the huge crowd, Geelani made a speech from the core of his heart.

In the catharsis, he went ahead with his desire for Pakistan and sought approval for himself as a "sole leader" for Kashmir cause from the masses.

Geelani roared, "There can be no two leaders in our movement, and today I am giving you people the right to decide who your leader is."

Then after a pause he went ahead asking people - do they have trust in the leadership of Syed Ali Geelani and tens of thousands of hands rose in unison and thundered in affirmation.

Ignoring the presence of others like Mirwaiz and Malik, the aged leader forgot that his words are endangering the fragile unity and virtually took it at the brink of collapse. Besides this his words started a spat.

The differences among top separatists were evident enough, for from the same podium Mirwaiz demanded "immediate self-determination" for Kashmiris. Contrary to it Yasin Malik, rose to announce, "We are for complete independence, neither for this country nor for that.  "Is paar bhi langey- azaadi, us paar bhi langey- azaadi," he exclaimed.

However, the situation was saved from getting worsened by Geelani's aides. Back home within hours Geelani was made to realize by his lieutenants that he of course has committed a mistake and for which he needs to speak in public. Acting on their advice, he went for a damage control and hurriedly called a press conference at his home.

"The movement is bigger than the individual. It was a slip of tongue and if it has hurt anybody's feelings, I apologise. I prefer unity over everything else," Geelani clarified the same day.

Analysts in valley view Geelani's moves as highly political and timely. "There is no disagreement on the point that popularity graph of Syed Ali Shah Geelani is at higher side as compared to others. Geelani tried to usurp the space and thus leaving no room for others to go for any kind of parleys with New Delhi. Moderate leadership whose ideology has takers in national and international level got discredited after their engagement with New Delhi in peace talks yielded no results. May be he might have fears that people might get indulged in back channel talks," said Gul Wani said. Wani is a political analyst in Kashmir and has an eye on the separatist politics in Kashmir.

The two factions of Hurriyat and others had patched up to fight the transfer of 40 hectares of forest land in Baltal area to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and the backlash against it in Jammu by the imposition of economic blockade had further strengthened their alliance.

The remark by Geelani had triggered resentment among other separatists, including Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Yasin Malik, besides bringing resentment among thousands of their supporters. But it is learnt that both the leaders had earned enough say in the coordination.

People in moderate Hurriayt are tightlipped as to why Geelani made a charged speech aimed at ignoring rest of the leadership.

 "I think the matter was resolved by the Geelani himself after he went for an apology. There is tremendous public pressure on leaders and they can't afford to commit mistakes at this juncture," said Nayeem Ahmad Khan, senior Hurriyat leader. Khan along with Shabir Ahmad Shah are said to have forged unity among the two Hurriyats and were representing the moderate faction in Coordination Committee.

Last week both the leaders were called back by the Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umar from the committee, however days after he was made to reconsider his decision and keep the duo in Coordination Committee.

"For New Delhi our unification is a biggest hurdle. There are forces who are trying to break Hurriyat from outside and within," Khan said.

Geelani's colleagues admitted that that they received hundreds of calls from people who felt the Geelani is trying to alienate other leaders and that his speech could create a gap between the leadership if not clarified. For the first time Geelani has made such an apology for whatever he said during the rally at Tourist reception Centre (TRC) Ground.

"The infighting over imposing agenda on each other has done a serious loss to the movement in Kashmir. We have an experience of it when JKLF was fighting with HM. So Geelani can not impose his ideology on masses and neither can I. let us forget these things and left the matter for people to decide. The new generation clearly says that we don't need to listen to the speeches. Let us do something practical and concrete.

Huge participation of people is enough powerful than a leader's speech. Leaders have to remain cautious," said Javid Ahmad Mir, senior Hurriyat leader and former JKLF commander.

Although the matter was buried after Geelani's apology but cracks in separatist leadership are as evident as before. However, in the face of growing public pressure the leadership is trying hard to conceal the fissures.

These erupt time and again as separatists are lost on where to direct this mass uprising. The leaderless mob on the street is no longer satisfied to hear leaders from the podiums. They want them to put their words in action.