Srinagar: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, a senior separatist leader and chairman of the Hurriyat group stated on Friday that he has never promoted violence or the use of firearms and that elections cannot be used to resolve the Kashmir issue, even though he does not oppose holding them.
Delivering the Friday sermon at the Jamia Masjid, a historic mosque in the Nowhatta area of Srinagar city, after four weeks, the Mirwaiz said he never advocated the use of guns or violence, and the Hurriyat always said they did not oppose elections but were against the claims that these elections are the solution to the decades-old Kashmir issue. The Jamia Masjid, a symbol of Kashmir’s religious and cultural heritage, has often been a focal point for political and social gatherings in the region.
He told the Friday congregation that the basic issue of Kashmir, which revolves around its political status and the rights of its people, is alive, and any projection that elections have vindicated what happened here on August 5, 2019, when the Indian government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, is misplaced.
“Hurriyat Conference has never been against dialogue. We sat across the table with (then PM) Atal Bihari Vajpayee, (then Home Minister) L.K.Advani, and (then PM) Manmohan Singh. The Kashmir issue needs to be resolved before it takes an ugly turn as we are witnessing presently in the Middle East,” he warned.
Attacking the US, he said, “They suggest ceasefire on one side, and on the second side, they provide weapons to Israel to be used against Palestine, Iran and Lebanon.”
The Mirwaiz further reiterated, “Iron fist policy does not solve problems. On August 5, 2019, we lost our rights to land, jobs and everything else. The local politicians are there for personal interests. If they were for the interests of the people then they would have been united. We believe that Lok Sabha and assembly elections are to solve day-to-day problems like Bijli, Pani, Sadak.” (electricity, water, good roads).
He urged the Centre to start a dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue permanently. “Even if our leaders are in jails under PSA or UAPA, the fact is that they represent the aspirations of the people,” he claimed. He said while the people of Kashmir had completely cooperated with the peaceful and smooth conduct of the Amarnath Yatra, what justification did the administration have in closing the gates of the Jamia Masjid on important religious occasions of the local people?
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq broke away from the United Hurriyat conference headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani on September 7, 2003. Compared to Geelani, who was hardliner, Mirwaiz Umar is considered moderate among separatists.
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–IANS
