Mirwaiz thanks participants despite heavy clampdown by Govt
Srinagar: Strongly condemning the state government for placing Mirwaiz Umar Farooq  under house arrest, to prevent him from attending the crucial  meeting called by him of resistance leaders ,traders, scholars ,intellectuals ,student bodies and others, to discuss alternate means of protest and to devise a joint  a strategy to counter state aggression, the Hurriyat (M) spokesman also condemned preventing by force the participation of Hurriyat (G ), JKLF (Yasin) , DFP  and others from attending the meeting .
Hurriyat (M) spokesman said despite all efforts of the state machinery to scuttle the initiative by arresting or detaining many invitees and activists, a mammoth six hour long  meeting was held at Mirwaiz Manzil Rajouri kadal ,which was attended by more than hundred fifty participants from across the board organisations, including the Bar Assosiation, Jamiata Ahlay Hadees, Kashmir Economic Alliance, Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Association, Chamber of Commerce, Darul-Aloom Qasmiya, Darul Aloom Bilaliya, Kashmir Civil society.
The meeting was presided by noted educationist Dr Yousuf Ul Umar of Islamic study circle.
In the telephonic address to the gathering, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq thanked the participants for making it to the meeting despite the governments heavily clamping down on it. He said it shows their deep commitment to the freedom movement and their earnestness at wanting to make a positive contribution towards it. Mirwaiz said that the aim of initiative is to get suggestions and ideas from people representing various sections and occupations of society at formulating a joint strategy and looking into alternate means of protest against continuous and growing state aggression, imposition of undeclared curfew especially in seven police stations, and detention and house arrest of resistance leadership. The Mirwaiz said that let each organization deliberate upon these objectives amongst themselves, compile their suggestions and select a representative who will put them before the forum. He said a forum could be formed where in these suggestions will be discussed by the selected representatives and the best ideas and suggestions conveyed to the top leadership who will then deliberate upon them and devise a strategy. Mirwaiz said that the objectives outlined for the initiative cannot be achieved in a single meeting but will take time and as such it is a process that has been set into motion. He said that this process has to be all inclusive and anyone and everyone who can contribute to it is most welcome. He said that in these direction suggestions from people especially the Kashmir Diaspora and others will be invited online through social media.
In their addresses the participants while condemning the house arrest of the Mirwaiz, thanked him for this long overdue initiative and said that it is the earnest need of the hour. While putting forth their suggestions, the participants said that it is amply clear that the government is day by day hardening its policy of suppression and non tolerance of dissent and any and every form of freedom of expression is curbed. In such a serious situation it is incumbent upon all sections of society to find ways and means of how to resist this oppression and make the world take note of it and take the freedom struggle formed. The participants also thrust upon the resistance leadership to unite as that was the surest way to success.
Among those who spoke on the occasion included, Masroor Abbas Ansari, Advocate Bashir Ahmed siddique,Mohd Yasin Khan,Abdul Rehman Khan,Mufti Nasir ul islam, Shakeel Qalandar,AiJaz Ul Haq, Jan Mohd Koul,Aga Syed Taqi, Mussadiq Adil, Dr. Sameer siqqiqui, Mukhtar Ahmad Waza,Mushtaq Ul Islam,Abdul Qayoom Wani ,Advocate Nazir Ahmed Ronga and others.
The meeting  also decided that those organisations which could not attend the meeting due to curbs will be updated and taken onboard. (KNS)