Srinagar, Jan 25: Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday said the conglomerate would consider dialogue with New Delhi if Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is revoked from Jammu and Kashmir.
“Let them revoke the draconian AFSPA, we will think over talks with New Delhi,” Mirwaiz told Greater Kashmir Friday evening.
Earlier addressing the Friday congregation on Eid-i-Milaad, the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), at the historic Jamia Masjid here, Mirwaiz said refusal to implement JS Verma Committee’s recommendations on AFSPA has once again exposed New Delhi’s ‘double standards.’
“It makes clear that Government of India wants to maintain status-quo on Kashmir,” he said.
The Mirwaiz said Hurriyat was never against dialogue but talks can’t be initiated at a time when New Delhi was not even ready to scrap AFSPA. He said the amalgam welcomes the Verma panel report wherein stress has been laid on reviewing the Act.
“New Delhi’s response that Verma committee recommendations can’t be implemented is very unfortunate. This speaks volumes about the double speak of Government of India and its Kashmir policy,” he said. The Hurriyat (M) Chairman said New Delhi claims of resolving the issues amicably, but it is not ready to shun its ‘rigid’ approach.
“People of Kashmir, who have suffered immensely on all fronts over the past 22 years, should feel some change on the ground,” the Mirwaiz said. “But it seems that Delhi wants to remain confined to its policy of suppressing Kashmiris and to maintain status-quo.”
“I appeal to the world community including human rights bodies to intervene in the AFSPA issue. It seems that the Government of India wants its forces to continue human rights violations in Kashmir under the garb of AFSPA,” Mirwaiz said.
He said dialogue and human rights violations under AFSPA cover can’t go hand-in-hand. “I am surprised to see New Delhi denying AFSPA revocation despite the fact that its intelligence, civil society members and other agencies maintain that Kashmir is more peaceful now,” the Mirwaiz said.
Mirwaiz said Hurriyat was not against any country’s republic day but the fact remains that the day brings “endless miseries” for the people of Kashmir. “People are being frisked, vehicles stopped, identity cards checked on this day. By doing this, New Delhi is violating its democratic principles,” he said.
Throwing light on Eid-e-Milaad, the Mirwaiz said Prophet Muhammad (SAW) showed the people how to live in freedom. “The Prophet’s (SAW) arrival brought awakening, enlightened the lives and spread the word of Allah, otherwise entire humanity would have been in darkness and ignorance,” he said and asked the people to follow the foot-steps of Prophet (SAW).

Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT
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