Adil Lateef
Srinagar, Oct 26: Leaders and workers of National Conference (NC) today staged a sit-in protest outside Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti’s residence at Gupkar against the State Government’s handling of 110 days long unrest in Kashmir valley.
Led by party General Secretary and legislator from Khanyar, Ali Muhammad Sagar, scores of NC leaders and workers took out a rally from its Nawa-i-Subah headquarters in Srinagar to the Mufti’s Fairview residence. Holding placards, the Opposition protesters raised slogans against State Government for mishandling of situation in Valley.
The NC leaders and workers were shouting slogans against the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), arrests of protesters, use of pellets and bullets. The protesters marched upto CM residence and held a sit-in. There was, however, no interception by police or other security forces.
Speaking to reporters, the NC General Secretary, Ali Muhammad Sagar, lashed out at Government for arrest of protesters and employees, announcing board examinations and barring faithful from offering prayers at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid.
Sagar said for the first time in the history 9000 people have been arrested and around 850-900 have been booked under Public Safety Act (PSA).
“And, for the first time — the small kids while being made victims of politics — it was announced to hold examinations in such a situation when (their conduct) is impossible because these kids are unable to come out”, he said.
He said the NC, its patron Farooq Abdullah and Working President, Omar Abdullah, time and again warned the Government to stop these (arrests and use of force) things.
Sagar alleged that the employees are being made victims of politics. “They are being arrested, dismissed. They are small fourth class poor employees,” he said adding there have been no prayers at Jamia Masjid in Srinagar from last seventeen Fridays.
“This is I think first Government in whole India where there was curfew even on Eid day and no prayers were offered in mosques and shrines. So, in this regard, we held a protest today,” he said and accused the State Government led by PDP of being in deep slumber.
With regard to Kashmir issue, he said that they have already spoken about resolving Kashmir issue and that’s being carried forward. “So, we hope that this Government, which is in very deep slumber, will wake up,” he said, and welcomed the talks between a civil society delegation and Kashmiri separatists.
“We have welcomed every kind of dialogue process between Hurriyat-Delhi or India-Pakistan for peace. Our leader has always hailed and welcomed the dialogue. When everyone here was talking war, Dr Farooq is the lone leader who said no to war and stressed for peace. The war will hit people of Jammu and Kashmir, the NC General Secretary added.
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