Srinagar, Dec 16: The Chairman of Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front, Muhammad Yaseen Malik, Friday strongly reacted to the statement by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that separatists were indulging in hooliganism.
“They (mainstream leaders) should look at their own track record. If there is any remorse in them, let them initiate action against the security personnel involved in the killing of hundreds of civilians since 2008,” Malik said while addressing a public meeting at Jenab Sahab Soura, here.
Malik said the people of Jammu Kashmir unilaterally left the path of violence in 2008 and started peaceful means and methods of registering their protests but it was responded with bullets killing hundreds of innocent civilians including youth, children old and women. “Height of things is that even FIRs were not registered against the armed forces who were involved in killing the innocent civilians. Instead of this, thousands of civilians including students were arrested and lodged in various jails under PSA.”
“New Delhi should avail of the prevailing political situation and adopt a positive approach for peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue,” he said, adding, “If New Delhi fails to benefit from prevailing peaceful situation in Kashmir the day is not far when people will again be compelled to come to streets to register their protests.”
Malik said, “It has been an enigma that whenever people of Kashmir raise their protests on streets, people from different sections of society in India from parliamentarians to civil societies and rulers talk in one voice about resolving Kashmir issue. But when these protests stop, the rulers’ attitude abruptly becomes aggressive and they take recourse to all types of coercive steps including showering bullets, carrying out crackdown and putting pro-freedom leaders and activists behind bars to suppress and stifle the voice of people.”
Malik said New Delhi should recognize Kashmiris as cardinal party to Kashmir issue and take steps for resolving Kashmir issue in accordance with their wishes and aspiration for abiding peace and stability in the subcontinent.
Later, Malik along with other Front leaders visited the residence of Tariq Ahmad Bhat at Nowhatta and expressed solidarity with the bereaved family.
Speaking on the occasion, Malik strongly condemned the killing and emphasized that such unfortunate incidents shouldn’t happen anywhere. “If we keep killing our own people, the objective of freedom struggle will cease to exit,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:00:00 IST