SRINAGAR: Neither weapons, nor elections may convey an answer to the Kashmir challenge, Hurriyat Convention chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq mentioned Friday, asserting that dialogue was the one technique to resolve the problem for attaining eternal peace.
In his sermon after the Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, Kashmir’s chief cleric, whereas recalling talks with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L Ok Advani and Manmohan Singh, mentioned Hurriyat had all the time advocated significant dialogue for everlasting settlement of the Kashmir challenge, however claimed “there was no seriousness on the opposite facet”.
Hurriyat didn’t need to see weapons within the fingers of youth because the “Kashmir battle” had already consumed three generations, he famous.
Addressing the congregation, Mirwaiz maintained that Hurriyat was by no means in opposition to election in J&Ok, however in opposition to it being projected as an answer to what he termed a longstanding “dispute”. The separatist outfit, which has prior to now issued ballot boycott calls, desisted from doing so this time round. Elections, nonetheless, “can’t be misconstrued because the settlement of the Kashmir challenge”, he mentioned.
“The truth is that meeting or Lok Sabha elections are just for decision for day-to-day points like ‘sadak, bijli and paani (street, electrical energy and water). The massive challenge, which is the political dispute, stays there,” he added.
Warning in opposition to a possible escalation, Mirwaiz referred to the scenario in West Asia and hoped the Kashmir challenge could be resolved “earlier than it takes an unpleasant flip and the form of a battle”.
He took a swipe at J&Ok’s mainstream events and their leaders, saying they claimed to be contesting the elections to guard the rights of individuals. “Had they actually been severe, they might have fought unitedly,” Mirwaiz mentioned.
Mirwaiz additionally introduced up the abrogation of Article 370, saying “our political rights had been snatched and we misplaced our management on land rights, jobs and what not”.
Asserting that the “iron fist coverage is not going to work”, he mentioned the Govt of India should come to the desk for talks. “Hurriyat management could also be in jail or below detention. A lot of them are booked below PSA and plenty of below UAPA. However, the very fact stays that Hurriyat continues to symbolize the real aspirations and sentiments of individuals of Kashmir,” he mentioned.
He additionally sought solutions from the J&Ok administration as to why the historic Jamia Masjid was closed on necessary spiritual events akin to Shab-e-Qadr, Rabi-ul Awal, Jumat-ul-Vida and so forth. “Can’t you see how folks of Kashmir cooperate when there are spiritual festivals of different communities. Don’t you see how we cooperate to make Amarnath Yatra a grand success? Why is Jamia being locked and prayers disallowed when there are particular Muslim rituals?” he requested.
