Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday said the execution of Muhammad Afzal Guru may have “satisfied the collective conscience of India” but the incident will “always remain as a collective memory for Kashmir as it has provided a new impetus to the ongoing freedom struggle.” Umar also said he will chair a ‘crucial meet’ at the Hurriyat (M) headquarters on Saturday to chalk out a strategy on visiting Guru’s residence in north Kashmir’s Sopore area.Addressing Friday gathering at the historic Jamia Masjid here after his release from the 45-day house-confinement yesterday, Mirwaiz said ups and downs are a part of genuine struggles. “I am addressing you after a long time. We have seen many ups and downs since 1947. What we need at this juncture is steadfastness,” he said, as people responded with pro-freedom slogans.He said Kashmiri people have witnessed many phases which have become a history of this “oppressed state.” “A fresh chapter was added to the history on February 9 when Government of India hanged an innocent Kashmiri without any announcement. The world’s largest democracy did not even allow Afzal Guru to meet his wife and lone son for one last time,” Mirwaiz said. “By hanging Guru, New Delhi sent a message to the people of Kashmir that it can use its power and force to any extent to suppress Kashmiris.”Mirwaiz said: “Government of India hanged Guru to satisfy the collective conscience of people of India. But the incident will remain as an unforgettable collective memory for Kashmir and Kashmiris. Guru’s hanging has provided a new wave of energy to the freedom struggle,” he said.
He said New Delhi, which claims to be a secular country, even refused to return the body of Guru. “Our demand was Guru’s body should be returned so that we could bury him in his native place. But this too was turned down. We ask New Delhi what kind of judiciary it has and what is the kind of Constitution it follows?” Mirwaiz said, asserting that the Hurriyat will continue to demand the body of Guru.Denouncing the curbs on separatist leaders, Mirwaiz said “executions, custodial killings, arrest of youths won’t break the resolve of Hurriyat.” “We will fight for our birth right of freedom,” he said.
He said Jamia Masjid was locked and no Friday prayers were allowed there for weeks together. “We will raise our voice against this as well so that the government doesn’t put curbs on our religious activities,” he said.Lashing out at National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party, Mirwaiz said both the parties are “hand-in-glove with each other and are playing politics over the sentiments of people.” “History is witness that resolutions and bills passed in the Assembly since it was formed in 1952 have been anti-people,” he said. He urged the people to follow the programs of Mutahida Majlis-e-Mashawarat (MMM) in “letter and spirit.”“Don’t give an impression to the government that people of Kashmir are tired. Programs are being issued keeping in view the economy and other aspects,” he said. “People should show courage the way they did in 2008, 2009 and 2010.”Soon after Friday congregational prayers, Mirwaiz led a massive rally from Jamia Masjid to Rajouri Kadal here, where he addressed people and reiterated the demand for return of Guru’s body and release of Hurriyat leaders and youth. “I will chair a meeting of Hurriyat members on Saturday where we will discuss as to when we should visit Guru’s residence in Sopore,” he said amid pro-freedom and pro-Islam slogans. The rally remained peaceful.