Palhallan  targeted for political vengeance: Moulana Tari

Srinagar: The Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) on Thursday lashed out at the state government for keeping its incarcerated Chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah under continuous police detention.

"What justification can these champions of 'battle of ideas' provide with regard to such arrest," DFP Secretary General Moulana Abdullah Tari said in a statement issued to press.

He said the so-called slogan of 'battle of ideas' proved hollow even since its inception as the pro-freedom leadership Syed Ali Geelani and Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai continue to be under house arrest while Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Ayaz Akbar and many others are still lodged in police stations.

Tari said the rulers instead of competing with us on political platform resorted to 'Boli Ke Badle Goli (Bullets for Talks)' and kept the whole resistance leadership behind bars.

"The continuous silence maintained by the head of the state makes it clear that he is a helpless ruler who has to follow the diktats of his masters. Mufti is answerable to people as to why he turned the site state into a virtual jail just to be in power," Tari said.

Moulana Tari termed the continuous arrest of DFP Chairman Shabir Ahmad Shah as "cowardice" of so-called administration saying the Mufti government's capital has been shifted from Srinagar to Nagpur.

"In 2015, Shah has been kept under house arrest for 172 days and prevented from attending 37 Friday congregational and 2 Eid prayers. Similarly, since he was released on 2011, the total detention period amounts to 27 months and one day including 171 Friday and 9 Eid prayers," he said.

The DFP Secretary General while condemning the arrest spree and raids across the state launched by the so-called administration and police said the 'Land of martyrs' Palhallan has been made target of political vengeance.

"The youth are arrested and taken to undisclosed locations. We assure the brave people of Palhallan that we will never leave them alone. The Mufti led administration cannot break our resolve through such repressive measures. This area has a great contribution towards the freedom struggle of Jammu Kashmir," Moulana Tari added. (KNS)