Hope new dispensation in Delhi acknowledges Kashmir reality: Mirwaiz

Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Sunday hoped that the new dispensation in New Delhi would accept the reality of Kashmir issue and “reframe” its policy for meaningful engagement.

He said Hurriyat was ready to support any effort aimed atresolution of Kashmir issue.

   

“Now that Lok Saba elections have ended, we hope the newdispensation at New Delhi would accept the ground realities in Kashmir, reframeits Kashmir policy and take steps to end hostilities in the region which hasbore the brunt of ongoing conflict,” Mirwaiz said while addressing a seminarorganised by the amalgam titled “The Importance of Dialogue in the Backdrop ofstrained Indo-Pak Relations.”

The seminar was organised to commemorate 29th martyrdom anniversaryof Shaheed-e-Milat Moulana Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq and 19th martyrdomanniversary of Shaheed-e-Hurriyat Khawja Abdul Gani Lone at the Hurriyat’sRajbagh headquarters.

Reacting to the assertions made by senior BJP leader DrJitender Singh that “Kashmir issue was a myth created by the Congress,” Mirwaizsaid that the claims signify that the party was totally unaware of groundsituation in Kashmir.

The Hurriyat (M) chairman, however, said whosoever comes topower in New Delhi must analyse whether the existing Kashmir policy has yieldedanything.

“I am hopeful the new government at Delhi would takeconcrete steps to engage with people. Hurriyat is ready to support anyinitiative to be taken by India and Pakistan towards resolving one of theoldest disputes of the world,” Mirwaiz said.

He said it was Hurriyat which held talks with former PrimeMinisters of India, Altal Bihari Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh and former Presidentof Pakistan, Pervez Mushraf.

“Isn’t it a fact that Vajpayee announced that Kashmir issueneeds to be resolved within ambit of humanity? Even Mushraff spoke about out ofthe box (solution) for Kashmir,” Mirwaiz said.

He, however, said that over the past five years, “ultimaterepression” was unleashed in Kashmir and all the peaceful means of protestswere choked.

“There was a time when we (separatists) would travel tovillages, talk to people, build an opinion on resolving the issue. But wheneach of us in Kashmir have been choked how can we evolve consensus on theway-forward,” he said. “Seminars are being banned, rallies disallowed and weare not even allowed to express sympathy with martyrs’ families.”

He alleged that separatist leadership was “harassed throughNIA and Enforce Directorate”. 

He termed the prevailing situation in Kashmir as “painful”stating there was no let up in the “policies of repression and intimidations”and killings and CASOs continue unabated even in the holy month of Ramadhan.

Mirwaiz said the gun-wielding local boys were the productsof the “ongoing oppression” and they were getting consumed in the unresolvedconflict.

“The youth who are picking up arms are driven by emotions asall of them have faced wrath of forces in one or the other way,” he said. “Theyare left with no option but to pick up arms.”

Mirwaiz said today it is the fourth generation of Kashmiriswhich is “fighting for their legitimate rights”. 

The Hurriyat (M) chairman demanded that all separatistleaders should be released without any pre-condition before Eid-ul-Fitr and theban on different organisations should also lifted.

“The confidence building measures (CBMS) like LoC travel andtrade that have been stopped should be restored by Eid,” he said.

“Our martyrs especially Shaheed-e-Milat andShaheed-e-Hurriyat and all the martyrs of Kashmir who laid their lives in theongoing struggle are our great assets and we vow to carry forward their missionwith full vigour and zeal,” Mirwaiz said.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Bilal Gani Lone,Moulana Masroor Abbas Ansari and Engineer Hilal Ahmed War, besidesrepresentatives of Hurriyat (G) and other organisations. The seminar wasmoderated by Moulana Syedur Rehman Shams.

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