Despite authorities imposing curfew, undeclared curfew and severe restrictions, entire Kashmir witnessed complete shutdown on May 21, people across Kashmir Valley paid glowing tributes to their prominent religious, social and political leader who stood for their right to self-determination, Shaheed-e-Millat Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Farooq, Shaheed-e-Hurriyat Khawaja Abdul Gani Lone, Martyrs of Hawal, and all the martyrs of Kashmir.As per the programme, on May 21 Hurriyat (G) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other senior Hurriyat leaders were scheduled to participate in the congregational Fateh Khawani prayers at the Martyrs Graveyard Eidgah following which they had to pay tributes to the martyrs.However, like the previous government, which repeatedly tried to stop May 21 programmes of the amalgam during their six years in power, the PDP-led coalition government, betraying the claims they would make while in opposition, followed the footprints of the previous government and tried to sabotage today’s programme, thus proving their frustration.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been placed under house arrest at Mirwaiz Manzil Nigeen since Friday evening while several Hurriyat and Awami Action Committee leaders and activist have been detained or placed under house arrest. Senior Hurriyat leader Masroor Abbas Ansari has been placed under house arrest, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza has been detained at Sher Bagh Police Station in Islamabad for the past three days, Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam, Javed Ahmad Mir, Engineer Hilal Ahmad War, Advocate Nazir Ahmad Ronga and Advocate Sheikh Yasir Dalaal have been placed under house arrest, Ghulam Qadir Beigh has been detained at the local police station while a large number of Hurriyat activists detained in different police stations besides raids were conducted on the residences of AAC office bearers and workers throughout the night and the crackdown on them is still on.
During his house arrest, the Mirwaiz while condemning the government’s undemocratic and dictatorial steps said by continuous use of force and violence, neither could people be stopped from carrying forward their struggle based on just rights nor the crackdown on the resistance leadership and people would pave the way for implementing the agenda of RSS in Jammu and Kashmir.Condemning the harassment of resistance leadership and the people of Kashmir, the Hurriyat (M) Chairman said Hurriyat would oppose any steps that are taken against the interests of the people.Stressing that Kashmir issue has to be solved in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir, he said this was the main aim of the conglomerate.
Stressing upon the leadership of India to read the writing on the wall, the Mirwaiz said they should realise that Kashmir issue is a living reality and dreaming of a peaceful and prosperous South Asia without resolving this issue was preposterous.Meanwhile, an Hurriyat (M) spokesman while condemning the house arrest of the Hurriyat Chairman since Friday evening and detentions and house arrests of several Hurriyat leaders and workers said since Friday 6 pm, the way government sabotaged the May 21 programme by using force had instead of weakening, strengthened the resolve of the resistance leadership and Kashmiri people for taking the mission of the martyrs to its logical conclusion by showing their more commitment and steadfastness towards the movement.
Meanwhile, prominent Hurriyat leader Muhammad Musadiq Adil led a group of resistance leaders to Martyrs Graveyard in Sopore where they paid glowing tributes to Shaheed-e-Millat, Shaheed-e-Hurriyat, Hawal Martyrs and all martyrs of Kashmir and resolved to take their mission to its logical conclusion.After the Zuhr (afternoon) prayers, people in Masjids across the Valley offered special prayers for Shaheed-e-Millat, Shaheed-e-Hurriyat, Hawal Martyrs and all martyrs of Kashmir and staged protests against the action of sabotaging the May 21 programme by ruling dispensation. In Nowshera Srinagar, Jammu Kashmir Awami Action Committee organised a rally which was led by senior leader of the organisation Yaqoob Masoodi but it was foiled by the authorities by using force and arresting two dozen workers of the organisation.The Hurriyat (M) spokesman condemned this action of the government. (KNS)