the death anniversary of his father Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq. With more than 15 thousand people who gathered for the commemoration, it was the first major separatist procession after the Ragda agitation in 2008 which saw hundreds of thousands of people gathering for pro-freedom demonstrations.
Frustrated by the ever growing size of pro-freedom rallies, authorities had replied with an iron fist. Frequent undeclared curfews were clamped and residents were roughed up in their localities, sometimes, inside their homes. Two elections after, it was the first time authorities allowed a separatist rally, though Mirwaiz alleged that many people were stopped from attending the rally.
Taking a tough stance, Mirwaiz, while addressing the gathyering at Eidgah, asked the government of India to make headway on Kashmir resolution. He called for a Lal Chowk March on July 13, the Martyrs Day.
In case of no headway on Kashmir issue from New Delhi in the next two months, Mirwaiz appealed people to start a mass agitation like the one in 2008. The rally was significant for separatists who have not only been cornered by the government restrictions, but also by the heavy turnout in elections. Sensing an opportunity, Mirwaiz also promised to work for the unity of Hurriyat and restore its 1993 position. With Sajjad already bowled out, the process may now become easier.
Frustrated by the ever growing size of pro-freedom rallies, authorities had replied with an iron fist. Frequent undeclared curfews were clamped and residents were roughed up in their localities, sometimes, inside their homes. Two elections after, it was the first time authorities allowed a separatist rally, though Mirwaiz alleged that many people were stopped from attending the rally.
Taking a tough stance, Mirwaiz, while addressing the gathyering at Eidgah, asked the government of India to make headway on Kashmir resolution. He called for a Lal Chowk March on July 13, the Martyrs Day.
In case of no headway on Kashmir issue from New Delhi in the next two months, Mirwaiz appealed people to start a mass agitation like the one in 2008. The rally was significant for separatists who have not only been cornered by the government restrictions, but also by the heavy turnout in elections. Sensing an opportunity, Mirwaiz also promised to work for the unity of Hurriyat and restore its 1993 position. With Sajjad already bowled out, the process may now become easier.
