Chairman Hurriyat (M), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has said that the peoples’ anger and the expression of their strong resistance over the anti-people policies of the government were genuine and natural because of the conflicting statements of the two main partners of the coalition government over the very vital issues concerning the political, economic and social interests of the people of Kashmir besides the identity and demographic character of the state as well as the future of our coming generations.Mirwaiz who had been placed under house arrest since Wednesday morning, had along with Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Muhammad Yasin Malik given a joint call for a Kashmir-wide shutdown on Thursday and peaceful protests on Friday, said that we have already made our stand on the concerned issues clear that the setting up of Sainik colonies, satellite townships for Kashmiri Pandits, housing for laborers working in Kashmir and the new anti-Kashmiri industrial policy is not acceptable to us and we will oppose these steps of the government tooth and nail. He said instead of making confusing statements by the coalition partners it was for the government to make its position on these issues clear and unambiguous.
Terming the Kashmiri Pandits a part and parcel of Kashmiri society, the Hurriyat (M) Chairman said the conglomerate does not object to the government providing them any financial package and APHC as well as the entire people of Kashmir would welcome their return to their homes and hearths so that like in the past, they start living amid communal amity and dignity in the Valley.The Mirwaiz condemned the arrest and confinement of the senior resistance leadership and the leaders as well as activists of APHC and Awami Action Committee and termed it as the frustration of the government.
Meanwhile Hurriyat spokesman has strongly condemned the house confinement of the Mirwaiz at his Nigeen residence from Wednesday morning and thus stopping him from discharging his religious, social and political responsibilities. The spokesman has also condemned the detention or house arrest of APHC leaders Mukthar Ahmad Waza, Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam and Javaid Ahmad Mir besides undemocratic action of authorities under which during night raids at the residences of various office bearers and workers of the APHC and Jammu Kashmir Awami Action Committee including Muhammad Sidiq Hazaar, Ghulam Muhammad Bhat, Abdul Aziz, Abdul Rashid Magray, Nazir Ahmad Bhat, Muhammad Shafi Lone, Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat and Sheikh Musadiq Shabir were picked up and detained at local police stations. The spokesman has termed this action of the government as completely dictatorial and suppressive.Stressing that the complete shutdown observed across Kashmir should serve as an eye-opener for the Government of India and its collaborators in the state, the spokesman cautioned that putting Hurriyat leaders under house arrest and in detentions, placing curbs on the movement of the people in old city and civil lines areas, and attempting to muzzle the voice of the people would have far reaching consequences.Terming these tactics of the government as dictatorial, undemocratic and anti-people, the APHC spokesman condemned these policies and said such measures had neither been able to break the will of the people or the resistance leadership in the past nor would they be able to do so in the future.The spokesman also appealed people to make the programme of staging peaceful protests throughout the Valley after Friday (May 27) congregational prayers a success. (KNS)