Srinagar, Jan 27 (KNS): Hurriyat (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday said that peace could not be achieved in an “environment of subjugation and repression”.
Mirwaiz was reacting to a speech of Governor and the statement of the government on peace and progress.
Addressing a congregational Friday prayers at historic Jamia Masjid at Srinagar, Mirwaiz said, “To talk of peace and progress is good as they are great objectives and basic right of humans world over and who would cherish them more than us, to whom they are most elusive, but in an environment of subjugation and repression can these objective be realized in their real sense?”
Mirwaiz, who is also the head cleric at Jamia Masjid said, “What kind of Peace and progress can be achieved when people feel captive? when they believe that their fundamental political right has been reneged upon and instead their aspirations are met with ruthlessness of force and might, when any space for expression of their aspirations is denied to them through use of force when the state treats them as rebels and hostile inhabitants and justifies its highhandedness and brutality in the name of maintaining law and order.”
He said, “Let us give peace and progress a real chance by respecting the wishes of the people of J&K, and conserving our resources for the progress of the people of the region especially the downtrodden who are in huge numbers rather than on upgrading our military arsenals.”
He said loss of live on every side is sad and it is time we show maturity and address the basic dispute to the relief of all.
Expressing regret is over the Bombay High Court judgment in which three accused from the majority community were let off for the murder of 24 year old IT graduate Mohsin Sheikh on the ground that the "victim belonged to the different religion which provoked the killers to murder him, Mirwaiz said, “While Kashmiris are at the receiving end of justice system in all manner and are punished to satisfy the "collective conscience of the nation "or on fabricated charges of sedition, but Indian Muslims owe allegiance to their country and under its constitution are to be considered equal citizens yet they are so openly and brazenly discriminated against on the basis on religion while the majority community enjoys impunity under the legal system is extremely regrettable.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel”
Paying glowing tributes to the martyrs of Kupwara massacre on their 23rd martyrdom anniversary, Mirwaiz said that this day is another tragic reminder of the great sacrifices our people have rendered for demanding their basic political right when 23 years back, Indian forces rained bullets on unarmed people killing 25 civilians at Kupwara and injuring many and no one among them was either prosecuted or punished.
Mirwaiz said since then the civilian population of Kashmir is bearing the brunt of brutal oppression and subjugation, repeatedly witnessing such massacres and mass murders at the hands of Indian forces for demanding their basic right of making a political choice to determine their future.
Meanwhile, Mirwaiz expressed grief at the loss of precious lives including that of some Indian soldiers killed during the avalanches in Gurez and other parts of the valley. (KNS)