Srinagar, Apr 20 (KNS): Chairman Reconciliation, Return and Rehabilitation of Migrants Satish Mahaldar on Monday urged Government of India to release Hurriyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq before Ramadhan who have been in detention since abrogation of Article 370. He also appealed elements indulging in violence to shun this approach of hostility and take the path of peace and dialogue.
In a statement issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Mahaldar urged Government of India (GoI) to release all Muslim religious leaders like Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who is in continuous house detention since special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 repealed.
“Moulvi Omar Farooq is the Mirwaiz of Kashmiri Muslims. He is not only a top religious leader but also holds an eminent position as a humanist. He is the only Muslim leader who has openly advocated for the return of the Kashmiri Pandits to the valley and has taken up several issues like drug addiction and food to poor”, Chairman RR&RM said.
He also said that the former J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik had also expressed happiness at Mirwaiz Omar Farooq’s activism against the drug abuse in the valley.
Mahaldar stated, “Despite being a victim of militancy who lost his father in early child hood, Mirwaiz has always favored talks to solve the Kashmir problem and was one among the Hurriyat team that held talks with the then Home Minister L K Advani during the NDA rule under Atal Bihari Vajpayee”, and added “Hurriyat leader has repeatedly expressed belief in Vajpayee’s principle of Jamhooriyat, Kashmiriyat and Insaniyat”.
“Being the Grand Mufti of Kashmir’s oldest Mosque, Moulvi Umar Farooq has an important religious duty and he can also play important role in bringing peace, development and sustainable growth of the state”, he said.
He appealed those treading the path of violence to come back and take the path of peace and dialogue. (KNS)