Srinagar, Feb 14: Stating that Afzal Guru’s hanging has triggered fresh anger among Kashmiris, the Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Thursday said that by hanging Guru New Delhi has once again treated sentiments of Kashmiris with utter “contempt and disregard.”
 In a statement issued here, the Hurriyat (M) spokesman said Kashmir is a “raging conflict” that has real dimensions which affect the lives and rights of the people. “Why is the Indian media so brazenly selective in its moral outrage? There is an absolute lack of expressed concern for the state of collective siege in Kashmir by both the Indian media and mainstream political parties,” he said.
 The Hurriyat spokesman termed the media campaign against JKLF chief Yasin Malik as a “blatant media trial” and a “ploy to shift attention” from the political repercussions of Guru’s hanging. “Indian media’s tendency to conduct media-trials when it comes to issues concerning Kashmir has proven to further alienate and isolate Kashmiris,” he said.
 The spokesman said Guru was also made to undergo a “media trial” and was portrayed as a culprit. The Hurriyat spokesman condemned the “media trial” being orchestrated against Malik and other separatist leaders without any regard to the veracity of their claims.
 He accused both NC and PDP of “surrendering” the sentiments of their people for the “lust of power.” “NC is a partner of the UPA and is a party to political decision to hang Guru. PDP on the other hand is using shameless rhetoric and double-speak without realizing that it too has its hands soaked with the blood of innocent Kashmiris,” he said. “Neither NC nor PDP has the moral courage to speak for the aspirations and sentiments of the Kashmiri people. The history of both parties is full of U-turns and sell-outs at every crucial juncture.”
  The Hurriyat (M) spokesman asked for Guru’s body to be handed over to his family without any further delay so that his family can bury him with full religious rites in Kashmir.  Meanwhile, Awami Action Committee (AAC) spokesman has lashed out at the government for not lifting curfew in downtown where people are facing the brunt of strict siege. “People of old city are on the verge of starvation. There is no relaxation in the curfew there. People are not even allowed to buy medicines,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 14 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 14 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST