KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Jan 30: Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday asked Government of India (GOI) as to why it got irked over a phone call to him by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister?
Mirwaiz said that Kashmir struggle is not for any economic package or chair or for any monetary benefits but purely for the ‘right to self determination’.
“A series of steps are being employed to weaken the struggle and the example is before us that our educated youth are being pushed to wall and left with no option other than to pick up arms and resistance leadership caged and even not allowed to mourn the deaths of our youth, our orchards damaged, houses blown up and resistance leaders caged and booked under PSA,” Mirwaiz said in a press briefing.
He said that legal ploys are also being put to use to change the disputed nature of Kashmir while as military might is used to muzzle the genuine dissent.
Mirwaiz asked government of India as to why a phone call to him by Pakistan foreign minister has irked it while the fact remains that Pakistan is a party to dispute.”What are they (GoI) objecting to?
He said that is it because Pakistan highlights miseries of Kashmiri’s whose all rights including the right to live is subjected to whims of a soldier on ground ‘who can shoot at will under legal cover and get away with it ,or worse be rewarded for it!’
“Should the world not know of it? If India cares so much about its image let them walk their talk of being a democracy and resolve the dispute democratically through talks and hold the promised referendum,” Mirwaiz said.
He said while on one hand GOI talks about Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat, and Jhamoriyat but on ground the fact it that they have unleashed worst ever policy of repression under the garb of CASO wherein everyday our youth are being killed mercilessly.
Mirwaiz said that New Delhi’s stubborn approach was the biggest hurdle in Kashmir resolution though former prime minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee had talked about dealing with Kashmir within the ambit of Insaniyat with all parties on board but the current PM Narinder Modi has only followed an iron fist military approach to suppress the voice of the people of Kashmir.
He said that people are facing tremendous hardships and it is need of the hour to forge unity on all fronts.
Meanwhile, a key constituent of Hurriyat Conference (M), the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Independent Movement headed by Bilal Lone, held its maiden delegates session at the amalgams party headquarters Rajbagh, Srinagar.
Delegates from almost all the districts of Kashmir participated in the session that was presided over by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq while as Prof Abdul Gani Bhat and Bilal Lone were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Bilal Lone said that his priority was to carry forward the mission of his father shaheed-e-Hurriyat Abdul Gani Lone which pursued throughout his life till the last minute of his martyrdom.
He said that the previous name of his party Peoples Conference had resulted in confusion among the ranks and files of party and that he decided to change the name of his party.
After consultations with my party workers, zeroed in on the name — JK Peoples Independent Movement, he said.
He said the party under its new name will strengthen the APHC and the hands of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on all fronts. Expressing full faith in the Hurriyat Conference and its leadership, Bilal Lone said to change the name of his party was taken after taking workers into confidence.
He said his affiliation and attachment with the freedom movement of Kashmir was his father’s legacy and he and his workers will remain steadfast towards the movement as people of Kashmir have offered their priceless sacrifices for the pious goal of right to self determination. To support APHC on all fronts and to protect the mission of martyrs is my ultimate goal.
Bilal Lone said that Kashmir issue has to be resolved by India and Pakistan bit not without the active participation of people of Kashmir. He urged his party activists to act as the representatives of APHC in their respective districts and to remain steadfast and committed towards the Kashmir cause.
In his address, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat said that Kashmiri people are sacrificing their today for a better tomorrow and time is not far when the dawn of freedom will rise and enlighten entire region.
He said the Hurriyat was representing a great thought and ideology and Kashmiris aren’t worried for themselves only but others also. He said war between India and Pakistan wasn’t possible and time is not far when both nations will have to resolve the vexed Kashmir dispute.
