“Forget Not Our Blood” foiled; Hurriyat terms restrictions “undemocratic”; Says India not learning lessons from past experiences

5 Dariya News (Tariq Bhat)

Srinagar 11-Jun-2013

Hurriyat Conference on Tuesday strongly criticized authorities for not allowing them to hold a seminar “Forget Not Our Blood” at their Hyderpora office in which Chairman Hurriyat Syed Ali Shah Geelani was supposed to preside over. Hurriyat has termed the restrictions “uncalled and undemocratic” by saying the seminar was not a public meeting but simply to commemorate the martyrs of 2010 within the four walls.

In a statement issued to Global News Service, the Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar said the seminar was scheduled to begin at 1 pm but police contingents had laid siege in the early wee hours and did not allow anyone including the media persons to go in. “Various dignitaries from civil society and intellectuals were expected to attend the seminar and the nature of the meeting was academic.”

“Restrictions are unconstitutional and immoral,” Akbar said, adding that people of Jammu and Kashmir and the pro-freedom leadership won’t give off their struggle by such repressive measures.Lashing at Omar Abdullah-led government, spokesman said these restrictions are worst examples of state terrorism. “Omar Abdullah government stands exposed and its tall claim of believing in democracy is a mere hoax.”“By imposing restrictions on seminar, the administration is tantamount to encouraging forces involved in target killing of youth and commitment exhibited by the people has frustrated the administration, hence they resort to autocratic rule,” the spokesman said. 

Spokesman said that people at the helm of power do understand that they without the support of forces and police cannot survive even for single day. “India has committed big mistakes with respect to its Kashmir policy and since last 65 years they have not learned any lesson in Kashmir.”Akbar said the current situation is a lull before the storm, “it is the arrogance of power through which forced silence prevails in the State”.“They have created an atmosphere in which people feel suffocated and chocked,” the Hurriyat spokesman said, adding that situation may change any time. “Then it would be impossible to control it,” the spokesman added.