Srinagar, Jul 20 (KNS): Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq today said that Friday prayers were being allowed at historic Jamia Masjid after two weeks by the authorities, who keep imposing frequent restrictions on conduct of prayers. He said restrictions curbs and repression has become the standard process of the authorities to manage Kashmir and keep Kashmiri’s in check.
According to a statement issued to KNS, speaking at the Friday congregation, Mirwaiz said it will be one year on 24th July since the NIA started the arbitrary arrest of political leaders and activists which continues to go on till today. Mirwaiz said that it is evident to all that the raids conducted by the NIA and the subsequent harassment and arrests being made by them at the behest of GOI, is nothing but a ploy to intimidate the peoples leadership and instill fear of grave consequences in them, while at the same time malign the leadership through visceral propaganda and create doubt and disillusionment among the people regarding their movement for self determination.
Mirwaiz said that those behind such measures should understand that Kashmiri’s are far too politically mature and conscious people who have seen enough of such plots and ploys in the last 70 years of rule under India, not to understand the motive behind them and even people of India cannot be fooled by them for long.
Mirwaiz said such moves only bring to fore GOIs policy of continuing to use extreme repression and intimidation as a means to crush the people’s resistance and of having no desire to settle the Kashmir dispute.
Mirwaiz said that today in India itself, the credibility and impartiality of these investigative agencies that are being used to trail their guns at us, is being severely questioned and challenged by Indians themselves. These agencies are being called the agents of the ruling dispensation which are used against anyone and everyone who is an opponent or does not agree with the government or questions them. So if that is the case in India itself, it comes as no surprise to Kashmiri’s that they will be used to undermine our struggle and subvert it .
Commenting on the condition of these political prisoners Mirwaiz said that their condition is quiet bad as they have been kept with criminals in Delhi’s notorious Tihar jail and as such there is always a risk to their lives. Their health has deteriorated and basic medical supplies are denied to them.
Mirwaiz said same is the case with all political prisoners in various jails in India and J&K. He lauded the courage and commitment of incarcerated leaders Shabir Ahmed Shah, Advocate Shahidul Islam, Altaf Ahmed Shah, Ayaz Akbar, Mehrajudin Kalwal, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Farooq Ahmed Dar, Asiya Andrabi, Fehmeeda Sofi, Nahida Nasreen, Shahid Yousuf and business man Zahoor Ahmed Watali and all others who are languishing in jails in and outside J&K for many years and some for decades. Mirwaiz demanded their immediate and unconditional release.
Mirwaiz said that let it be clear to all that neither leadership nor people will not be cowed down by these measures and propaganda. Mirwaiz said that the peoples demand for the right to self determination was is and will continue to be there till it is granted to us. Sooner or later the Kashmir dispute will have to be addressed. No amount of repression harassment intimidation or fear can change that fact. (KNS)