Terming the role of the leadership of the Jammu Kashmir Awami Action Committee (AAC) in the ongoing struggle for the right to self-determination and sacrifices of its workers as an illuminating chapter in Kashmir’s contemporary history, President AAC and Hurriyat (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on the occasion of the 52nd foundation day of the AAC on Monday said the organization has always represented the wishes and aspirations of the people.Addressing a gathering of AAC leaders, activists and delegates from various districts of Jammu and Kashmir at the AAC’s party headquarters at Mirwaiz Manzil, Rajouri Kadal, the Mirwaiz said since the day of its foundation the organization had remained steadfast and consistent on its stand and played a pivotal and leadership role in the ongoing resistance movement.
Stressing that organisation’s leadership right from its founder, Shaheed-e-Millat Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Farooq to its numerous workers had sacrificed their lives for the greater cause of Kashmir, he said now it was the responsibility of everyone of us to take the movement, for which these sacrifices were rendered, to its logical conclusion.Commenting on the recent statement of Foreign Minster of India Sushma Swaraj that "warmth and ease" in relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif can help resolve complex issues between the two neighbours and also that India wants to resolve all vexed issues with Pakistan through talks at bilateral level without involving any third country or party the Mirwaiz said, the Hurriyat Conference and the people of Kashmir had always stood for better relations between New Delhi and Islamabad and the settlement of all the pending issues between them through dialogue, however, so far as Kashmir issue is concerned any break through can’t be expected without the involvement of the Kashmir people because it is an issue that involves the political future and aspirations of the people.
The Mirwaiz expressed hope that the leadership of both the countries would recognize this reality and would evolve a proper mechanism to include the people of Kashmir and the resistance leadership in any ensuing dialogue process over Kashmir.Speaking to this impressive gathering, the APHC Chairman said the Shaheed-e-Millat laid the foundation of AAC in difficult circumstances and raised voice for the rights of the people, the mission he continued to strive till his martyrdom.Terming the election process in the state as an exercise in futility, the APHC Chairman said the Hurriyat Conference had in the past too rejected this process as Jammu Kashmir is a disputed territory the future of which has to be decided by the people of the territory as per their wishes and aspirations.Urging people to take maximum benefits of the blessings of the holy month of Ramadan, he said besides learning to control ones desires and cravings, the month also teaches us to bring reforms in our society and help the poor and destitute.Calling upon the organsiation’s office bearers, activists and sympathizers to discharge their duties toward resistance movement and their organization the Mirwaiz said, during the month of Ramadan, they also needed to take care of their religious duties.On the occasion, the Mirwaiz released a book ‘Nida-e-Hurriyat’, a compilation of sermons of Shaheed-e-Millat Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Farooq, which is edited by M S Rehman Shams and published by a prominent publication house, Meezan Publishers, Srinagar.Before the book release, noted Kashmiri journalist and intellectual, Yusuf Jameel paid glowing tributes to Shaheed-e-Millat on his services to the society and religion and for his sacrifice of martyrdom.Noted poet and scholar Prof. Margoob Banhali while terming Shaheed-e-Millat a history in himself said, his sacrifice for Kashmir would always be remembered in golden letters. (KNS)