Says Kashmiris must not be seen solely through prism of security, law & order
SRINAGAR: Addressing the Friday congregation at the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar, Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Molvi Umar Farooq expressed deep concern over recent events.
He said, “The bomb blast in New Delhi in which 12 innocent people lost their lives and many others sustained gruesome injuries is very sad and painful. Such incidents shock and shake up humans.”
He further lamented the way such tragedies are exploited: “It is extremely unfortunate that these incidents are often used to create hysteria before the facts are even established. The media, with the help of ‘inside sources,’ tend to feed a narrative eager to immediately associate such acts with a particular religion or community, criminalising them. Due to this, our children and youth studying and working across India become suspect overnight, living in fear, and it creates anxiety among our people here.”
Mirwaiz said his and his organisations’ stance: “I, along with all the political and religious organizations I am part of, have always condemned acts of violence and terror. The people of Kashmir are the first to empathize with victims because we understand the pain caused by such incidents from our own experience of decades. What happened in Delhi — no cause, however just — can justify it. No religion can permit it.”
He reiterated his belief in dialogue: “For me, dialogue — talking and listening to each other with respect — is the best way to resolve issues and build bridges.”
Addressing the responsibilities of leadership, Mirwaiz added: “I have also repeatedly said that the pulpit of Jama Masjid places upon me the responsibility of speaking for the people. The people of Kashmir are distressed and disempowered. While the larger issues remain unaddressed, even the autonomy constitutionally granted by the Government of India to the people of J&K was snatched away in August 2019 when the region was downgraded to a Union Territory. Land and job rights were taken from us. Immediately, our vulnerability and fear of demographic change became real, with restrictions on freedom of expression, constant surveillance, fear of arbitrary dismissals, and the attachment of land and properties. Daily issues like rising unemployment among youth and shrinking job avenues due to the removal of 35A and discriminatory reservation policies have all contributed to a sense of hopelessness and resentment.”
He appealed to the authorities: “It is my request to those in decision-making positions to seriously reconsider their approach. Instead of dealing with the people of Jammu and Kashmir solely through the prism of security and law and order, they should heed the words of late Vajpayee ji, who spoke from the ‘daira of insaniyat and jamhooriyat.’ Of course, it’s for them to pay heed or ignore. For us, hope for the future and faith in the Almighty remain our imaan.”