For the second consecutive day on Sunday, the government imposed restrictions in several areas of Downtown to disallow the rally of Awami Action Committee (AAC) in connection with its ongoing Hafta-e-Shahadat (Martyr’s week).
AAC and Hurriyat Conference (M) is observing ‘Martyrs week’ from May 16 to May 21 to commemorate the martyrdom anniversaries of Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq and Khawaja Abdul Gani Lone and also the victims of Hawal massacre of May 21, 1990.
Strict restrictions were enforced in Downtown areas including Nowhatta, M R Gunj, Safa Kadal, Khanyar and Rainwari to prevent AAC workers from taking out a rally from AAC headquarters at Rajouri Kadal.
Aghast over the curbs on the rally, chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is also the AAC patron took to his twitter handle. “Leadership under detention while Downtown continues to be put under curfew and restrictions! Mirwaiz Manzil Rajouri kadal completely sealed and barricaded! Repression for the sake of “Development” the new mantra for Kashmir resolution!,” Mirwaiz wrote on Twitter.
AAC spokesperson in a statement protested the government’s decision of disallowing the rally. AAC also condemned the continuous house detention of its patron Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, since past three days.
“The government’s decision of disallowing the AAC rally to pay tributes to its founder Mirwaiz Molvi Muhammad Farooq and caged Mirwaiz Umar Farooq as sheer dictatorial and vengeful act. Huge participation of people in the previous programs of Hafta-e-Shahadat has unnerved the rulers as it brings to fore people’s committed to the mission of martyrs,” it said.
The statement said that leaders like ‘Shaheed-e-Milat’ and ‘Shaheed-e-Hurriyat’ sacrificed their lives for a sacred people’s cause and every citizen of Kashmir is duty bound to honor and take forward the mission of martyrs.
The statement condemned the police raids on AAC workers, activists and leaders terming it “acceptance of defeat by the government.” The AAC appealed the people of Kashmir to march towards Eidgah on May 21 “where resistance leadership will address the gathering and reaffirm the pledge to take forward the mission of martyrs.”
The statement said in Chenab valley, recitation of Quran and dua majlis for Shaheed-e-Milat was held at various places. Meanwhile, Youth AAC president Mushtaq Ahmed Sufi chaired a meeting at Mirwaiz Manzil to pay tributes to Moulana Mirwaiz Muhamamd Farooq and martyrs of Hawal on their 28th martyrdom anniversary. “If we have to fulfill the dream of our martyrs, we have to commit fully to the freedom movement and be ready to bear all the hardships ” said Sufi. In the meanwhile, ahead of the Eidgah rally, many leaders have been placed under house arrest including engineer Hilal War, Mukhar Waza, and others.