Mirwaiz flays army for issuing ‘political statements’

Srinagar: Flaying the “crackdown” on Hurriyat leaders ahead of the march to Naqshband sahib on July 13, chairman Hurriyat Conference(M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Tuesday dared the ruling National Conference to provide a level playing field to pro-freedom leaders.Addressing a press conference at party headquarters here after an executive level meeting, Mirwaiz also lashed out at the army and police for issuing ‘political statements on Jammu and Kashmir.”“Leave aside the political leadership of India even the military leadership is issuing political statements now. Their statements on which black law has to stay and which to go, or the police higher ups issuing advisories to government on how to deal with political parties clearly shows that there is no democracy in Kashmir,” he said.In an apparent dig at chief minister Omar Abdullah, Mirwaiz said that those “who claim to have no problems with people expressing their views have imposed a blanket ban on the activities of Hurriyat.”“Our programmes have always been peaceful but once again ahead of our peaceful march to pay collective tributes to the martyrs of 1931, the puppet rulers have put Hurriyat leaders and activists under house arrest or behind bars,” he said.Mirwaiz said the “mission” of 1931 martyrs was yet to be fulfilled and the events of 1947 might have ended the Dogra autocracy but not the “miseries and suppression of Kashmiris.”“There is no difference between the Dogra autocracy and the post-1947 rulers in Kashmir,” he said. “Till 1947 it was Dogra autocracy after 1947 it has been police raj. If we compare both the periods, for Kashmiris there is no perceptible change in the oppression and terror unleashed on Kashmiris,” he said.“These so called representatives of people go to the martyr’s graveyard under the cover of gun and gather rented assemblies in the glare of government press, but they can’t fool people. Those who have been claiming to be willing to fight a so-called battle of ideologies should give us political space see on whose side people are, what they want and where their aspirations lies,” he said.Mirwaiz said post 2008, New Delhi and its “puppet rulers” in Jammu and Kashmir have arbitrarily resorted to use of force, draconian laws like PSA to muzzle the voice of Kashmiris.“On one hand an impression is being given out by New Delhi and even its interlocutors that India is involved in a serious political initiative in Kashmir but we believe that all this is a farce. They talk of dialogue, settling issue with Pakistan but on ground Jammu and Kashmir has been turned into a police state,” he said.Mirwaiz said the Hurriyat had always supported dialogue, but until the political, civil and religious rights of Kashmiris “remain suspended” there will be no breakthrough in Indo-Pak talks on Kashmir.Mirwaiz said the Hurriyat was not against revival of economic activity in Kashmir or arrival or tourists or yatris but “the issue of Kashmir is not economic but political.”“Hurriyat has always been in favour of economic activity. We realize that our economy is based on tourism. We want tourists to come, enjoy the natural beauty, welcome yetis, and there will be no programme from our side which will hamper these activities, but at the same time the issue of Kashmir is not economic. We want economic stability but economic measures can’t solve Kashmir,” he said.Mirwaiz said the revival of tourism and economic activity after three years was encouraging, but people of India visiting Kashmir should “at least try to feel the pain of ordinary Kashmiri, his aspiration to live with respect and dignity, the black laws imposed on Kashmiris , the rights violations.”Vowing to carry out the amalgam’s scheduled programme on July 13, Mirwaiz said after offering the zuhr prayers at Jamia Masjid people will march to Naqshband sahib to pay collective tributes to martyrs,He said if the government doesn’t change its policy of “political vendetta” against pro-freedom leaders, “we will run a sustained public campaign against it.”