Mirwaiz Umar calls for Hurriyat reunion
Announces Lal Chowk Chalo on July 13
Srinagar, May 22: In Srinagar, the APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has called for the reunion of Hurriyat Conference as tens of thousands of people reciprocated with freedom slogans.
Mirwiaz said on the death anniversary of Mirwaiz Maulvi Mohammad Farooq and Khawaja Abdul Ghani Lone, “We take a vow not to let the sacrifices of martyrs go waste. For taking the movement to its logical conclusion, we will restore the Hurriyat to its 1993 structure soon. I make a fervent appeal to pro-freedom leaders to rise above their political ideologies and work jointly with the conglomerate,” the Mirwaiz said at Eidgah near the Martyrs Graveyard here.
Hurriyat Conference, a conglomerate of pro-freedom parties was created in 1993, saying, "we will restore 1993 position of All Party Hurriyat Conference and we have to take all the people along."
“Some other leaders were supposed to be attend this function but they were kept under house arrest,” the Mirwaiz said, referring to Syed Ali Geelani and Mohammad Yasin Malik. He however maintained that the pressure tactics can’t deter the resolve of Kashmiris. He announced Lal Chowk Chalo on Martyrs Day on July 13. “We will soon announce dates for more rallies to press for Kashmir resolution. If the authorities attempted to thwart the agitation, it will be responsible for the consequences. In such case we will be forced to take aggressive stand.
"We will launch a mass agitation after two months on the pattern of last year's (Amarnath) land row agitation." The Mirwaiz called for Lal Chowk Chaloo (march) on July 13, the day which Kashmiris observe as martyrs’ day to pay tributes to those killed fighting against pre-1947 autocratic rule of Dogra Maharaja.Crowds shouted "We want freedom" and "No election, No selection, we want freedom" at the procession led by the Mirwaiz who sat on a truck bedecked with green flags.
As Mirwaiz offered Fateha on his father’s grave, people shouted, ‘Mirwaiz Qadam Bhadav Ham Tumharey Saath Hain (Mirwaiz move forward, we are with you).’ Mirwaiz had to jostle through thousands of enthusiastic youth, wearing green headgears and holding Islamic flags, to reach the stage. The sentiment was so high that people stood up and continuously shouted pro-freedom slogans. “For martyrs’ sake, please control your emotions,” Mirwaiz told the crowd which instantly responded to his appeal.
“The Martyrs Graveyard is testimony of the sentiments and aspirations of Kashmiris. I promise not to let you down and fight till last drop of my blood to forge unity among Hurriyat and get the right to self-determination,” he said.
Mirwaiz also announced to strengthen the conglomerate particularly in rural areas and launch a statewide agitation for freedom. “I have decided to reach every village of the Jammu and Kashmir for garnering support for the movement. I want one voice for freedom. My father united Shias and Sunis for betterment of Kashmiris. We need your support for accomplishing the mission of martyrs. You have to learn to differentiate between pro-movement and anti-movement people. Don’t let anybody do business on the blood of martyrs,” he said. People kept shouting ‘no-election, no-selection, we want freedom.’
Mirwaiz castigated the pro-India leaders for calling themselves representatives of Kashmiris. “I challenge the self-styled representatives to organise a rally at Martyrs Graveyard to prove their claim,” he said adding a true representative is one who sympathizes with people. “But these so-called leaders are only meant for denying Kashmiris their birth right. They are paid for executing New Delhi’s anti-Kashmir policies,” he said.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Thursday urged the new Congress-led government to solve the Kashmir issue and fulfill the promise of India's first Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. “Now that India has a strong government, time for solution of the Kashmir issue has come,” Mirwaiz said.
Mirwaiz warned of fresh mass uprising if New Delhi doesn’t start dialogue with Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir dispute. “We will be forced to take to streets and start a peaceful political agitation if India fails to initiate dialogue for Kashmir resolution within two months,” Mirwaiz said. Mirwaiz condemned restrictions on the movement of people to Eidgah from various districts. “Police ruthlessly thrashed dozens of youth and damaged many vehicles bound for Eidgah. It is a shameful act.
Rejecting elections as solution to Kashmir, Mirwaiz said, “Our aim is not to reach parliament, assembly or get subsidies and perks but press for self-determination promised by India and United Nations,” Mirwaiz said. He, however, maintained that Hurriyat will support any move aimed at resolution of the dispute according to aspirations of Kashmir.
“We are not against people of India but are peacefully fighting for our rights. Kashmir can only be solved politically and not through military might,” he added. Mirwaiz hailed Pakistan for rendering political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris and hoped it will continue to help the movement.
Mirwaiz also urged upon US president, Barrack Hussain Obama, to facilitate resolution of Kashmir according to aspirations of Kashmiris.
Among others who attended the rally included senior Hurriyat leaders Agha Syed Al-Mousive Al Safvi, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Yasmeen Raja, Fazl-e-Haque Qureshi and Javid Ahmad Mir.
The crowds cheered up Kanwaljeet Singh, Awami Action Committee’s provincial secretary for Jammu when he took to the stage and supported Kashmir’s freedom movement.
Most Hurriyat’s leaders, including Prof Abdul Ghani Bhat, and Zaffar Akbar Bhat were under house arrest.
Mirwaiz said the Congress leading the new UPA government in New Delhi was having good numbers and should have the political will to resolve the Kashmir issue. That would ensure peace in the sub-continent, he said.
The Mirwaiz demanded the withdrawal of troops, revocation of laws Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), release of all detained before the elections and condemned the recent alleged custodial killing of a man at Aluchi Bagh area of Srinagar.
Other Hurriyat leaders, who addressed the rally included Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Yasmeen Raja, Javid Mir and others. Khan said that elections in Kashmir are no solution that is why Kashmiris have resolved to reject any such process until India shows sincerity and willingness to resolve the long-pending Kashmir issue.