Srinagar, Nov 20: Castigating New Delhi and the State Government for “snatching” religious and political rights of Kashmiris, the chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Saturday sought the intervention of Muslim countries and announced to launch a campaign against the curbs.
Addressing a news conference at his Nigeen residence here, where he has been put under house arrest since last Thursday, Mirwaiz said he would meet ambassadors of Muslim countries asking them to intervene in the matter.
“We would apprise Imam Kaa’ba and would call on ambassadors of Islamic countries at New Delhi next week asking them to play their role in the issue,” he said.
Coming down heavily on National Conference-led coalition government; Mirwaiz said that they had resorted to worst kind of political vengeance by putting curbs on prayers.
“I have been prevented for past 10 Fridays from offering congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid and Mirwaiz was not allowed to offer Eid prayers first time in the history of Kashmir. The other pro-freedom leaders were also kept under house arrest,” he said.
Mirwaiz said no force of world can stop him from speaking about the political sentiments and aspirations of Kashmiris from Jamia Masjid and other religious platforms.
“How can they stop me from talking about killings and oppression of fellow Kashmiris. The NC founder Shiekh Muhammad Abdullah propagated his political ideology from stage of Hazratbal (shrine),” he said, while accusing the government of pursuing its ideology through the barrel of gun.
Asking Muslims of Kashmir to remain vigilant and cautious, Mirwaiz asked how can a government stop people from performing religious duties in a Muslim-majority state.
“The Muslims of Kashmir facilitated smooth conduct of Yatra and even during past five months, when whole Kashmir was burning, no Yatri was touched,” he said adding that state government had miserably failed to protect the honour and dignity of Kashmiris.
“The state has been virtually turned into police state as police and paramilitary forces have taken control in their hands. The policy of repression and state terrorism is continuing unabated and youth are being targeted in Palhalan, Pattan and Sopore areas,” he said.
Asking civil society of India to play active role in resolution of Kashmir dispute, Mirwaiz said that Indian people shouldn’t view Kashmir through Pakistani prism.
“The Government of India wants that Kashmir issue should be looked through Pakistan prism by its people, but our movement is indigenous and Pakistan is party to the dispute. We are not against people of India, but against its military approach on Kashmir. I want to tell India that you can kill the youth but not the sentiment which is deep rooted in the hearts of Kashmiris,” he said.
The Mirwaiz said whole world was talking in single voice over resolution of Kashmir issue, owing to the sacrifices rendered by Kashmiris in past five months.
“We express gratitude to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatullah Khamenai for his statement on Kashmir and China for treating Kashmir as dispute and remarks of US president Barack Obama are also welcome development. These countries have internal differences, but they are talking in unison over resolving the issue,” he said.
Asking GOI to accept reality, Mirwaiz said that bilateralism has failed to yield solution of dispute in past six decades.
“The bilateral talks between India-Pakistan or Kashmir-India failed to resolve the issue. It is high time that GOI should shun its military approach vis-à-vis Kashmir and dialogue between India, Pakistan and Kashmiri leadership can lead for resolution of dispute,” he said.
Replying to a query on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s statement that “supporters of militant violence” in Kashmir have links with Maoists, he termed the statement as unfortunate and conspiracy against the indigenous movement of Kashmiris.
“I want to ask Chief Minister Omar Abdullah were Wamiq Farooq, Zahid Farooq, Tufail Matto and 112 people killed residents of Jharkhand and belonged to Naxalites. I will not be surprised if Chief Minister tomorrow says that Al-Qaeda was behind the protests and these youth killed were its cadres,” he said.
To another question, Mirwaiz said that efforts for forging unity among pro-freedom leadership were on.
“There should be balance so that people shouldn’t suffer as economic stability is must,” he said in reply to a question about the protest calendar of Hurriyat (G).

Lastupdate on : Sat, 20 Nov 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 20 Nov 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Nov 2010 00:00:00 IST