Denouncing the arrest spree by National Investigative Agency and curbs on political expression, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday asserted that no amount of fear-mongering would end the need for the resolution of Kashmir issue.
“Curbs, arrests and other intimidating tools won’t end the serious need to address the basic issue. But New Delhi is following the policy of fear mongering and shows no desire for resolution of the Kashmir dispute,” Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) told a Friday congregation at the historic Jamia Masjid.
Accusing New Delhi of subduing the “genuine aspirations” of people in Kashmir, Mirwaiz said, “Raids, arrests, curbs and other means of repression show that New Delhi is banking on the policy of fear. But people of Kashmir have grown too conscious to be cowed down by intimidating ploys.”
Mirwaiz, also a key leader of the JRL trio, said July 24 would mark the resistance leaders’ one year in custody. “Delhi’s agencies started the arbitrary arrest of political leaders and activists a year ago, which continues to go on. The raids conducted by these agencies and the subsequent harassment and arrests being made by them is nothing but a ploy to intimidate the peoples leadership and instill fear of grave consequences among them.” He a visceral smear campaign had been unleashed to tarnish the image of “freedom activists” and to create doubts in the people’s minds.
“Kashmiri people understand very well the motives behind the activism of these agencies and even people of India cannot be fooled by them for long,” the Kashmir’s chief cleric said.
He alleged that today, in India itself, the credibility and impartiality of the investigative agencies that are being used to “train their guns at us”, was being severely questioned and challenged by citizens of India themselves. “These agencies are being called the agents of the ruling dispensation and are used against anyone and everyone who opposes or does not agree with the government or questions its ways,” he said. “So if that is the case in India itself, it comes as no surprise to Kashmiris that they will be used to undermine our struggle and subvert it.”
Commenting on the condition of the political prisoners, Mirwaiz said that their condition was worsening behind bars as they had been housed with the dreaded criminals in Delhi’s notorious Tihar jail “putting their life in grave danger.”
Mirwaiz lauded the courage and commitment of incarcerated leaders including Shabir Ahmed Shah, Advocate Shahidul Islam, Altaf Ahmed Shah, Ayaz Akbar, Mehrajudin Kalwal, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Farooq Ahmed Dar, Asiya Andrabi, Fehmeeda Sofi, Nahida Nasreen, Shahid Yousuf and businessman Zahoor Ahmed Watali and all others who are languishing in jails in and outside J&K for many years, some for decades. Mirwaiz demanded their immediate and unconditional release.
“Sooner or later the Kashmir dispute will have to be addressed. No amount of repression, harassment, intimidation or fear can change that fact.”