Srinagar, July 15: Responding to Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama’s statement, where he had asked Kashmiri people to remain peaceful, Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Sunday said the spiritual leader seems to be unaware about the ground realities.   
 “We respect Dalai Lama and recognize his genuine cause, however, peace cannot prevail till justice is done,” a local news agency quoted Mirwaiz as having said. 
 Mirwaiz expressed disappointment over the ‘restricted visit’ of the Dalai Lama. “He did not interact with people neither did he meet civil society members, rights people or different shades of political leadership, which was expected”, Mirwaiz said. “The government hijacked his visit by restricting its ambit.”
 Mirwaiz said the spiritual leader being a representative of oppressed people can understand the plight of Kashmiris, however, the government managed to confine his visit to its own people. “We expected him to meet parents of disappeared persons, victims of violence and the destitute”, he said. “He did not talk about injustice, killings and human rights violations either. We understand New Delhi is sympathetic to Tibetan cause, however, we hope he would take notice of these issues,” he added.
 The Mirwaiz appealed the Tibetan leader to impress upon New Delhi to change its attitude towards Kashmir. “New Delhi is talking peace but acting through its army and forces”, he said adding the Dalai Lama can understand the pain of Kashmiris better as his people have also been suffering for long.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 15 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 15 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST