Chairman Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday strongly condemned the government for caging him in his own residence “on almost every Friday”, saying the Jammu and Kashmir has been converted into a “police state”.Addressing people at the historic Jamia Masjid, Srinagar, after three consecutive Fridays, Mirwaiz said, “A reign of terror has been let loose to in still fear among the population through curbs and heavy deployment of forces at every nook and corner of Kashmir Valley.”He said the present situation was the “worst” for people of valley who he said are confronted with serious difficulties in their day to day life. He said the “unscrupulous ruling class of the state is busy in adding to the difficulties of the people”.“Curbs and restrictions continue to be placed on our political, religious and other social activities and by use of force we are denied to discharge our political and religious responsibilities whereas rural areas of south and north Kashmir are facing forces’ wrath through continuous Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs),” Mirwaiz said.He said in the name of anti-militancy operations, homes of common people are vandalized and property damaged as “police and forces know there is no one to make them accountable”.
Mirwaiz said the government has failed to provide even basic amenities like electricity, drinking water etc to the population. “In the most difficult weather conditions of the ongoing cold season, there is serious shortage of electricity and drinking water besides worst condition of roads which leads to road accidents on regular basis causing death and injury to the commuters reflects complete apathy of the rulers towards people,” he said.“Sadak bijli and pani are not luxuries but basic necessities of life but ironically those at the helm of affairs busy in enjoying the perks of power have failed to deliver on that,” he said.Meanwhile, Mirwaiz also hit out at administration for putting curbs in downtown and disallowing Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid repeatedly and termed it as “act of oppression and vendetta” against the innocent people of downtown for their “unflinching support for the movement”.Mirwaiz also termed the recent announcement of social media gag on government employees as a “defeat of the rulers”. “The claims of democracy stand punctured through this autocratic diktat,” Mirwaiz said. (GNS)