Srinagar, June 25: With Kashmir witnessing unrest over civilian killings by Government forces in the recent past, the Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday said the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should resign if he was unable to protect peoples’ lives.
“The state Chief Minister has taken oath to protect lives, dignity and property of people. If he finds himself hapless to protect people’s lives then he should resign otherwise he should admit that the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister is nothing but a puppet in the hands of Government of India,” Mirwaiz told the Friday congregation at historic Jamia Masjid here.
Reacting to the talks offer by the Chief Minister, the head priest of the Valley dared Omar to “ensure on his own” removal of bunkers and army camps from cities, towns and residential areas first.
“I want to ask him in what capacity he wants to talk with us. Their government is non-existent on the land. However, I challenge him that if he is serious to about the safety of lives and if he ensures on his own the removal of bunkers and army camps from residential areas, then we are ready for talks,” he said, adding there wouldn’t be any kind of stone pelting by youth if the army was withdrawn from the civilian areas.
Mirwaiz who was put under house arrest by the state government to thwart the scheduled all party meeting of the Hurriyat on Thursday, said situation was turning from “bad to worse.”
“Our youth are being killed in fake encounters. Students are targeted. Kashmir is not an issue about employment, roads or economic packages, it is a political issue which demands a political solution,” he said from the pulpit of the Masjid.
The Valley has been witnessing frequent unrest following the expose about the killing of three youth of Rafiabad in north Kashmir in a fake encounter by army in Machil near LoC. It was followed by killing of a 12th class student, Tufail Ahmad Mattoo here in police action earlier this month. Another city youth Muhammad Rafiq Bangroo died after a severe beating by the CRPF troopers. “Situation is deteriorating but there is no accountability,” Mirwaiz said.
The Hurriyat Chairman accused government of “misusing” the Public Safety Act against Kashmiri youth to suppress the ongoing movement. “It will not demoralize us. We will continue to fight till our goal is achieved.”
About the Foreign Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan, Mirwaiz said any dialogue between the two countries was “futile” till the basic issue of Kashmir was not addressed as per peoples’ aspiration.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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