Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday said that the situation developing on ground over the past week with deployment of thousands of additional forces and government orders circulating has alarmed people and they have become apprehensive of something happening.
Addressing Friday congregation at historic Jama Masjid in Srinagar he said, “Speculations are rife including removal of Article 35A to change the demography of the state and its Muslim majority character. For the past three years there has been a great push towards it since when various PILs were filed in the Indian Supreme Court to challenge it.”
“As in the past people and leadership have to be ready to resist every attempt to undo it. The provision was negotiated by the regional electoral parties and is an article of faith, which should not be breached,” he said.
Mirwaiz said such measures will not change the reality that Kashmir issue is an issue and has to be resolved. “The whole word is asking India and Pakistan to resolve it and there are also offers to mediate. If the leadership of India and Pakistan are really concerned for their people, they will show statesmanship and agree to talk. Ultimately It is only India Pakistan and the Kashmiris that can reach a lasting resolution,” the Hurriyat (M) chairman said.
“We have always strongly advocated dialogue among stakeholders, a fact borne out by our sincere push for it and participation in dialogue 2004 onwards. We only believe in and have always advocated peaceful means of struggle for the resolution of the lingering internationally acknowledged Kashmir conflict in which lakhs of human lives have so far been lost and continue to be lost,” he added.
The Mirwaiz said current hostilities at the LoC are also resulting in loss of previous lives on both sides and there is always a fear of escalation among the nuclear armed neighbours. He asked people to seek recourse in almighty Allah and his blessings and do Zikr o Azkar as much as possible.