Srinagar: Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Sunday expressed hope once the new dispensation at New Delhi takes charge, it would revisit its Kashmir policy and analyze as to whether the existing policy on Kashmir had gone its favour or instead worsened things on all fronts.
Delivering his presidential address at a seminar organized by the amalgam, Mirwaiz said that Hurriyat Conference was hopeful that whosoever comes to power at New Delhi would admit the reality of Kashmir dispute and engage with the leadership to end the hostility so that a dignified solution is found to the vexed dispute of Kashmir.
The seminar was held at the Hurriyat Conference headquarters at Rajbagh here to commemorate the anniversaries of Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq, martyrs of Hawal massacre and the Abdul Gani Lone. The seminar titled “The importance of dialogue in the backdrop of strained indo-Pak relations”.
Mirwaiz said that the Hurriyat Conference had participated in the dialogue process with the former Prime Minister of India—Altal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh and also the then Pakistani president General Pervez Musharraf. He said that it was Vajapayee who had realised the need for resolving the Kashmir issue as he advocated that Kashmir needs to be dealt with in the ambit of humanity.
Mirwiaz said that Hurriyat Conference was ready to support all Indo Pak efforts aimed at ending hostility and seeking a peaceful solution of Kashmir issue. Mirwaiz demanded release of all political prisoners, repeal of AFSPA and taking back all anti Kashmiri measures so that an atmosphere of trust is created in Kashmir that has been tormented by the worst every conflict in which thousands of people of Kashmir are already paying a heavy price.
Mirwaiz termed the present prevailing situation in Kashmir as sensitive and painful, stating that there is no let up in the policies of repression and intimidations as killings, harassment and CASOs continue unabated even in the holy month of Ramazan. He said there were apprehensions whether the authorities would allow the seminar as last year, the then government had barred it and caged entire Hurriyat Confernce leadership.
Mirwaiz said that the repressive measures are being taken to suppress the genuine voices of people of Kashmir.
Mirwaiz said that he was feeling the pain whenever any youth is killed in government forces action or in encounters stating that that it was beyond doubt that the gun-wielding local boys were the products of the ongoing oppression and they are getting consumed in the ongoing unresolved conflict. He said emotions and repressions is driving the educated youth of Kashmir towards armed means of resistance as every scope for raising voices peacefully stand chocked.
All the Hurriyat leaders including Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, Bilal Gani Lone, Masroor Abbas Ansari, Sampat Prakash, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Jaffar Kashmiri, Tariq Ahmed Dar, a representative of Hurriyat Conference (G) Owasi Sahab addressed the gathering. The seminar was moderated by Moulana Syed-ur-Rehman Shams.
In his address, Professor Bhat while stressing for the responsibilities to be shouldered by the resistance leadership said that it is the prime responsibility of the leadership to lead the people of Kashmir on the track. He said given the changing global political scenario, “we must adopt a route that can lead us to the final destination.”
Prof Bhat said that India and Pakistan must realize the need for resolving the Kashmir issue for the larger interests of the people of South Asia and for that the two nations must take some bold steps. Professor Bhat urged all the pro-freedom leaders and parties to work for a united Hurriyat Conference like the one in 1993. He said let there be one single platform and a joint strategy so that “we achieve our mission collectively.”
Speaking on the occasion, Moulana Masroor Abbas Ansari said martyrs never die and are alive in every heart of the nation they belong to. He said efforts should be made on all fronts to take the mission of martyrs to its logical end. Moulana Masroor Abbas Ansari said that the doors of Hurriyat Conference were always open and that those who are out of the forum must realize the need of unity and join the forum and remain under single platform.
In his speech, Bilal Gani Lone said that “we must work altogether to strengthen the Hurriyat Conference and its chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.
“It is our primary responsibility to make every effort to strengthen the hands of our leader as when our leader would be strong, Hurriyat Conference would be strong and we all would be strong.”
