Srinagar, April 12 : Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday said that the present prevailing political situation in Kashmir is “highly sensitive and fragile” and that the indiscriminate use of pellet guns resulting in the killings of innocents is “extremely painful”.
According to GNS, Mirwaiz while addressing the congregational Friday gathering at the historic Jamia Masjid, said that the use of pellet gun has yet again claimed the life of a class 7 student Owais Mushtaq Mir in Handwara are of Kupwara despite the fact that entire international community including the United Nations in its report had called for a complete ban on use of pellet guns in Kashmir.
He said recently the EU parliamentarians had also asked the Government of India to ban the use of pellet guns. The scars left behind by the lethal pellet guns in 2016 are still afresh as many youth were killed and blinded yet it is unfortunate that the use of pellets continues unabated in Kashmir with the result that a budding flower was crushed forever, he said.
Mirwaiz also criticised the ban on civilian traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu highway for twice a week calling it an “autocratic” decision by the rulers. He said the ban is leading to immense hardship and difficulties for the people.
Miwaiz said that pressure was mounted on leadership through ED and NIA to silence the voices seeking resolution of the Kashmir dispute even as his house was raided and many notices were sent to him.
Mirwaiz said that a collective decision was taken after which he decided to face the NIA in New Delhi. He said he was asked about the various organisations which he heads including Anjuman Auqaf Jamia, Anjuman Nusratul Islam, Darulkhair APHC and AAC the details of which they had seized during the raid as well recommendations for visa to Pakistan by Kashmiris and recommendation to medical colleges in Pakistan about which he appraised them.
Mirwaiz said his life and Hurriyat’s stand is an open book and there is nothing to hide. “APHC believes that Kashmir is a lingering political issue that has to be resolved. There was no other alternative than its resolution. Kashmir is yearning for a peaceful resolution since 1947 and today Kashmir’s fourth generation is getting consumed demanding the peaceful solution of the issue,” he said.
Mirwaiz said that the pulpit of Jamia Masjid represents the aspirations of people of Kashmir who have sacrificed a lot for its peaceful resolution.
It was represented by Mirwaiz Moulana Muhammad Yousuf Shah (RA) in 1947 and also by the “Shaheed-e-Milat” Moulana Muhammad Farooq (RA) in 1975 in public rally in Srinagar where he coined the idea of resolving the issue through tripartite dialogue, he said.
Mirwaiz said that on every stage, he has been stating that Kashmir issue was a political reality and nobody can turn their back on it.
Kashmir issue doesn’t pertain to any one particular party, organization or a leader but it was a people’s issue and all political parties of the entire J&K endorse that, Mirwaiz said.
He said India and Pakistan fought many wars on Kashmir in which thousands of soldiers died on both sides but nothing was achieved and yet again the armies of both nations are at loggerheads.
It is clear that through military approach the nature of Kashmir issue cannot be altered and it’s high time that the political measures are taken to address the issue, he said.
Mirwaiz said “intimidation or harassment” cannot make him change his political stand on Kashmir which is based on reality.
Any government that comes to power in India or Pakistan has to save themselves from engaging into a full-fledged war and the only way-out is to take concrete steps for the resolution of the vexed issue of Kashmir, Mirwaiz said adding that he will continue to represent the people’s aspirations and emotions. (GNS)
