Monitor News Bureau
Srinagar, July 20: Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday said that Friday prayers were being
allowed at historic Jamia Masjid after two weeks by the authorities, who keep imposing frequent restrictions
on conduct of prayers.
He said restrictions curbs and repression has become the standard process of the authorities to “manage
Kashmir and keep Kashmiris in check”.
Speaking at the Friday congregation, Mirwaiz said it will be one year on 24th July since the NIA started the
arbitrary arrest of political leaders and activists which continues to go on till today.
“It is evident to all that the raids conducted by the NIA and the subsequent harassment and arrests being
made by them at the behest of GOI, is nothing but a ploy to intimidate the peoples leadership and instill fear
of grave consequences in them, while at the same time malign the leadership through visceral propaganda
and create doubt and disillusionment among the people regarding their movement for self-determination,”
he said.
Mirwaiz said that those behind such measures should understand that Kashmiris are "far too politically
mature and conscious people, who have seen “enough of such plots and ploys in the last 70 years.”
“Such moves only bring to fore, New Delhi’s policy of continuing to use extreme repression and intimidation
as a means to crush the people’s resistance and of having no desire to settle the Kashmir dispute. The
credibility and impartiality of these investigative agencies that are being used to trail their guns at us, is
being severely questioned and challenged by Indians themselves. These agencies are being called the agents
of the ruling dispensation which are used against anyone and everyone who is an opponent or does not
agree with the government or questions them. So if that is the case in India itself, it comes as no surprise to
Kashmiri’s that they will be used to undermine our struggle and subvert it,” he said.
Commenting on the condition of these political prisoners Mirwaiz said that their condition is quiet bad as
they have been kept with criminals in Delhi’s notorious Tihar jail and as such there is always a risk to their
lives. Their health has deteriorated and basic medical supplies are denied to them.
Mirwaiz said same is the case with all political prisoners in various jails in India and J&K. He lauded the
courage and commitment of incarcerated leaders 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 business man Zahoor Ahmed Watali and all others who are
languishing in jails in and outside J&K for many years and some for decades. Mirwaiz demanded their
immediate and unconditional release.
Mirwaiz said that let it be clear to all that neither leadership nor people will not be cowed down by these
measures and propaganda. Mirwaiz said that the peoples demand for the right to self-determination was is
and will continue to be there till it is granted to us. Sooner or later the Kashmir dispute will have to be
addressed. No amount of repression harassment intimidation or fear can change that fact.
