Relax Iron Fist Policy, Adopt Humane and Realistic Approach to Kashmir: Mirwaiz Farooq to Center

SRINAGAR: Hurriyat conference president and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in his first media address since his release from house arrest in September last year said on Friday the Government of India (GoI) should relax its iron-first policy towards Kashmir and adopt a humane and realistic approach to make progress in finding a solution to the Kashmir issue through dialogue.

“After four weeks, I was allowed to offer Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid. It is a very unfortunate policy of the government that I do not know why I am being held and when I am free,” Mirwaiz told reporters after offering Friday pays at Jamia Masjid.

It was his first media interview about his release from more than four years of house arrest last September.

Mirwaiz, who delivered Friday’s sermon at Jamia, expressed hope that this politics would end and they would get the right to present their point of view.

“If they think that by taking these measures we won’t talk about this issue, they are wrong. Our position is principled,” he said.

Referring to the Lok Sabha polls, Mirwaiz said the new government will arrive in New Delhi in the next few days and “we hope that the new government will take initiatives that will lead to lasting peace and resolution of the Kashmir issue.”

Calling for dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue, he said, “The Hurriyat Conference and its leaders have always said that they want the issue to be resolved through dialogue. We always believe that the Kashmir issue should be resolved through dialogue for eternal peace in J&K.”

“We suffered because of its propagation. We faced attacks, but we did not give up our principled stand. We hope that the Government of India will change its policy towards Kashmir and adopt a humanistic and realistic approach to move forward and maintain dialogue,” he said. “Let us hope that the new government will come up with a positive policy towards Kashmir. If they take one step, we will take two steps.”

Urging the Center to moderate its iron fist approach, Mirwaiz said the government should rethink its policies and release a large number of imprisoned youths.

Assuring that they would not succumb to any pressure, he said, “We are not afraid of FIRs. We have also faced FIRs in the past.”

“Our position is clear. We don’t want war. We want a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue. We do not want bloodshed and hope that it is time to move forward and find a solution to the problem through dialogue,” Mirwaiz said.

The Hurriyat leader said he did not want the youth to be consumed by the conflict. “We want the Government of India and the J&K Government to show flexibility. We are not allowed to move freely. There should be no restrictions on my movement and I should be able to perform my social, political and religious duties.”

“The people of J&K have priority over its resources, be it land, jobs etc. This should not be denied on any pretext,” he added.