Mirwaiz to face NIA sleuths in Delhi today: Hurriyat (M)

After deliberations and consultations with his party leaders and activists, the chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Sunday decided to leave for New Delhi to face questioning at the National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters on Monday in connection with the alleged militancy funding case. Mirwaiz will, however, be accompanied by all Hurriyat (M) leaders.

The announcement was made after Mirwaiz chaired a crucialmeeting of the executive, general and working committee of the amalgam at hisNigeen residence. After the meeting, Mirwaiz also held deliberations with theAwami Action Committee (AAC) leaders and members.

   

“Mirwaiz will leave for Delhi on Monday morning along withall the members of the amalgam,” a source in the Hurriyat (M) told GreaterKashmir. 

Mirwaiz has been served with three back-to-back notices bythe NIA asking him to present himself before the probe agency’s office at NewDelhi.

Earlier, Mirwaiz’s lawyer wrote two responses to theinvestigating agency, stating that “his client can’t travel to Delhi due tohostile atmosphere and security concerns”.

In the third summon, the NIA has stated that Mirwaiz’ssecurity concerns “will be taken care of.”

The source said that hectic deliberations continued atMirwaiz’sNigeen residence throughout Sunday and later “a unanimous decision wastaken that he will air-dash to Delhi along with all members of Hurriyat led byhim, on Monday”. Mirwaiz has been asked to present himself before the NIA courtin Delhi on April 8 at 10.30am.

In a statement issued here, the Hurriyat (M) said a meetingchaired by Mirwaiz at his Nigeen residence deliberated upon the notice whereinMirwaiz has been asked to present himself before the NIA court as “a witness.”

“The meeting strongly condemned the move and stated that thechairman (Mirwaiz) is being deliberately harassed and there is an effort tocriminalise the leadership for their political stand,” the statement said. “Theparticipants of the meeting stressed that Hurriyat is a political coalition ofpolitical parties striving for the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue andto associate it with anything to do with terror is ridiculous and deliberatevictimisation for our political ideology”.

“It is unfortunate that despite having always maintainedthat Kashmir is a political issue that needs resolution peacefully and humanelyand having always welcomed the participation in every effort at dialoguebetween the stakeholders, yet rulers of the day are resorting to such tacticsto harass and intimidate them under the garb of legality,” the statement read.

“Despite having nothing to do with the matter (militancyfunding), Mirwaiz through his legal counsel had made it clear that he was readyto cooperate in the investigation but investigations be held in Srinagar as hehad several genuine concerns including serious security concerns in New Delhi,”the statement said. “NIA has refused to conduct the investigation in Srinagarand in its fresh notice mentioned that it would take care of his securityconcern”. “It is unfortunate that it (NIA) did not take into account otherconcerns and is insisting on investigation in Delhi. The meeting decided thatall the members of the amalgam will accompany Mirwaiz to New Delhi for theinvestigation,” the statement read.

“Hurriyat knows that the people are anguished and concernedfor the Mirwaiz as their religious emotions are also attached to him as’Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir’, besides he being a representative of their politicalsentiments (sic),” the statement read. “We know that people are deeplyanguished by the harassment of Mirwaiz. We urge people to stay calm andpeaceful. Mirwaiz or any member of Hurriyat has nothing to do with the fundingcase and it is sheer vindictiveness on the part of authorities,” the statementsaid.

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