Srinagar

Hurriyat conference (m) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Sunday said that the new political dispensation in Delhi has to engage with the realities of Kashmir, its people and address the issue.

Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq addressing a seminar in Srinagar. KL Image by Bilal Bahadur

Addressing a seminar titled “The Importance of Dialogue in the Backdrop of Strained Indo-Pak Relations” at Rajbagh, Mirwaiz termed the present prevailing situation in Kashmir as sensitive and painful stating that there is no let up in the policies of intimidations as killings, harassment and CASOs continue unabated even in this holy month of Ramadhan.

The seminar was organised to commemorate the anniversaries of Moulana Mirwaiz Muhammad Farooq, senior Hurriyat Abdul Gani Lone and the victims of Hawal massacre of 21 May 1990.

He said, “there were apprehensions whether the authorities would allow the seminar as last  year, the then government had barred it and caged entire Hurriyat leadership.”

The spokesman in a statement quoted Mirwaiz as having said that the repressive measures are being taken to suppress the genuine voices of people of Kashmir.

Mirwaiz said that he was hopeful that once the new dispensation at Delhi takes charge, it would revisit its Kashmir policy and analyse as to whether the existing policy on Kashmir had gone its favour or instead worsened things on all fronts.

He said, “Hurriyat was hopeful that whosoever comes to power at Delhi would admit the reality of Kashmir dispute and engage with the leadership to end the hostility so that a dignified solution is found to the vexed dispute of Kashmir.”

Mirwaiz said that the Hurriyat had participated in the dialogue process with the former Prime Minister of India—Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh and also the then Pakistani president General Pervez Musharraf.

He said that it was Vajpayee who had realised the need for resolving the Kashmir issue as he advocated that Kashmir needs to be dealt with in the ambit of humanity.

Mirwaiz said that Hurriyat was ready to support all Indo Pak efforts aimed at ending hostility and seeking a peaceful solution of Kashmir issue.

“Mirwaiz demanded the release of all political prisoners, repeal of  AFSA and taking back all anti-Kashmiri measures so that an atmosphere of trust is created in Kashmir that has been tormented by the worst every conflict in which thousands of people of Kashmir are already paying a heavy price,” said the spokesman.

“All the Hurriyat leaders that include Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, Bilal Gani Lone, Engineer Hilal War, Masroor Abbas Ansari, Sampat Prakash, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Jaffar Kashmiri, Tariq Ahmed Dar, a representative of Hurriyat (G) Owasi Sahab addressed the gathering; the seminar was moderated by Moulana Syed ur Rehman Shams,” said the spokesman in a statement.

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