Srinagar: Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq castigated government for repeated curbs in entire downtown during Fridays and that government was mistaken in believing that people would give up “just straggle under suppression.”
Addressing a Friday gathering allowed after five weeks at Jamia Masjid, Mirwaiz termed the repeated restrictions in the entire downtown and not allowing the Friday prayers at the historic Jama Masjid here as the “expression of frustration and dictatorial attitude of the rulers.”
Mirwaiz said the government was mistaken in thinking that people would be deterred and would give up just struggle by using these means of “suppression against us.”
After remaining under house confinement and prevented from offering Friday prayers for past five consecutive weeks, Mirwaiz said pulpit of Jamia Masjid has always been representing the political and socio-religious sentiments and aspirations of the Kashmiris.
“It will continue, in spite of restrictions, till the Kashmir issue is resolved in accordance wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir.”
He said Jammu Kashmir has practically been converted into a “police state” and the voice of people was being strangulated by the use of force and repression.
“Besides the youth are pushed to the wall and the genuine activities of political leadership are not allowed by their repeated house confinement or arrests. These tactics are not going to make us cow-down.”
Referring to media reports that the ruling regime was opening a liquor shop at the Sheikh-ul-Alam (RA) airport Srinagar on the pretext of promoting tourism, Mirwaiz government has under this pretext already allowed opening liquor and wine shops anywhere in Kashmir which was not only Un-Islamic but has a potential of spreading many social evils in the society.
Mirwaiz said that under the patronage of government, a big liquor shop was already functional at Sonwar in front of the children hospital, “which is of serious concern.”
Mirwaiz cautioned the government against the evil consequences of such acts having disastrous effects on the society. “In case any such decision is taken it will be opposed tooth and nail by the people of Kashmir.”