Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 10: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today stated that the attempts to subvert an important religious institution of Mirwaiz in Kashmir will create negativity in the relationship between Kashmir and rest of the country.
Condemning the NIA action against Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, PDP senior leader and former Minister Naeem Akhtar stated that Mirwaiz represents a centuries old religious institution and is head of the seat of learning besides being part of the culture of Kashmir. “Any attempt of targeting him or humiliating him is an offensive against the people of Kashmir. Irrespective of his politics which reflects his moderate views on the need and resolution of Kashmir, Mirwaiz is a very important religious institution and any attempt at subverting it will create a lasting negativity in the relationship between Kashmir and rest of the country,” Akhtar said.
He added that although the present Government is taking the war against people of Kashmir to a new level but such attempts in the past have proved only counterproductive and have added to the complexity of the issue.
The PDP leader stated that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been a victim of militancy himself, has lost his father in the early days of armed uprising in Kashmir and the country could have benefited from his inputs to the discourse of resolution. “But unfortunately, the present Government has decided to wage war on outstanding individuals like him, the institution he is heading and the people of Kashmir in general. His father also has lost his life to the ‘unresolved Kashmir issue’ and that targeting his son today showcases the tragedy of Kashmir,” Naeem Akhtar maintained.
Another PDP leader Mohd Khurshid Alam (MLC) questioned the NIA’s move of summoning Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to Delhi and said that the BJP is trying to use Kashmir as a launching pad for 2019 elections.
“It is unfortunate that the national elections are turning bad for real democracy in Kashmir with nocturnal raids, bundling people in jails, banning religious outfits, sealing mosques becoming order of the day. Such undemocratic measures will have grave consequences,” Alam said.
The PDP leader termed summoning of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq as deeply hurting, agonising and reflection of a dreadful vendetta against the people of Kashmir.
Senior NC leader and former MLA Kangan, Mian Altaf Ahmed also condemned the summoning of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to New Delhi by National investigation Agency (NIA).
In a statement, Altaf said that besides being considered as a moderate separatist leader, Mirwaiz is also a religious leader and Mirwaiz of Kashmir who leads the Friday prayers in Jamia Masjid Srinagar, adding that summoning him to Delhi will be seen as a humiliation and intimidation that will subsequently hurt the sentiments of a community in the J&K State.
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