Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Wednesday said that the All Party Meeting of “the pro-India parties” convened by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is nothing more than a farce to mislead people into believing that they are serious about addressing the prevailing oppressive situation in the state.
In a statement issued here, Mirwaiz blamed “these very parties” for the misery and massacres in Kashmir.
“They are responsible for the oppression we are facing for the past thirty years,” Mirwaiz said. “Our suffering is an outcome of the draconian laws and legislations put in place here by New Delhi with the full cooperation and support of the pro-India parties.”
He said that the mainstream parties have surrendered “J&K’s sovereignty” to New Delhi for the sake of chair.
“Today, Kashmir is a colony of India with over seven lakh Indian troops stationed here ensuring forcible control through military might resulting in severe repression on people. And these parties willingly preside over the repression for the sake of chair without agency as all power rests with New Delhi”, Mirwaiz said. “Now they want us to believe that their meetings will bring us relief”.
Mirwaiz said when all space for expression of dissent is choked, as in Kashmir, youth feel forced to turn to violent means.
“When these young boys are killed by the forces and police as in Shopian their bosses condone and congratulate the forces,” he said. “And when young civilians are killed, there is silence, not even an FIR is filed anywhere over the killing of seven innocent youth which includes the one who was mowed to death by an armoured vehicle.”
Mirwaiz held the mainstream leaders responsible for spilling of blood in Kashmir.
“If these parties are really serious and mean business then all the black laws should be revoked forthwith and the forces’ personnel responsible for the massacre of innocent youth should be brought to justice,” he said.
Mirwaiz said that the situation in Kashmir is so fragile and worrisome that in just two months forces have killed 32 civilians mostly youth while scores have been blinded and maimed by the pellets and pava shells.
He said for the resistance camp, all means of peaceful protests and political space has been closed. Mirwaiz asked those in chair how long will they continue to follow the diktats of New Delhi and preside over the massacres of Kashmiris. GKNN