Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference(M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday said the expulsion of Kashmiri students and filing of sedition charges against them had once again exposed India’s “hollow democratic and secular credentials.”
Addressing a Friday gathering at the historic Jamia Masjid in downtown Srinagar, Mirwaiz said “if expression of feelings means sedition then India should book the entire Kashmri nation for sedition.”
“Kashmiris celebrating or cheering at the loss of India is an act of defiance against the oppression and usurping of basic human rights of Kashmiris by India and its forces in Kashmir,” Mirwaiz said .
Mirwaiz said the Meerut incident had substantiated long-held apprehensions of Kashmiris particularly students being unsafe in India.
Thanking Pakistan for its “support” to the expelled Kashmiri students, Mirwaiz also appealed members countries of the Organisation of Islamic Countries(OIC) to reserve seats for Kashmiri students.
Mirwaiz also appealed Kashmir’s business community to come forward for setting up of educational institutes in the valley so that Kashmir’s young generation could pursue their higher studies here.
“The harassment of Kashmiri students by the university and filing of sedition charges against them is an act of mental sickness. It is very unfortunate that our students are made victims of communalism in every nook and corner of Indi,” senior leader of the breakaway Hurriyat faction , Shabir Ahmad Shah, said while addressing a gathering at Hajin Chowk in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.