Category: Union Territory

Expresses deep shock over Ramban accident

Srinagar: Paying glowing tributes to Shaheed-e-Millat, Moulvi Mohammad Farooq on his 24th martyrdom anniversary, Shaheed-e-Hurriyat Khwaja Abdul Gani Lone, martyrs of hawal and entire Kashmir, Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman and head of Awami Action Committee, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who was placed under house arrest by the authorities early this morning, said that showing complete resolve and commitment towards the mission of martyrs guarantees success of the freedom struggle.

According to a statement issued to KNS, Mirwaiz, who was put under house arrest and  could not attend the AAC workers rally organized at the historic Mirwaiz Manzil in connection with the Hafta Shohda programme, in a telephonic address to the participants  said that  the basic aim of our struggle was a lasting solution of Kashmir issue and protection of the sacrifices made by our great leaders and people for the cause.

Hurriyat (M) Chairman stated that Kashmiris have faced innumerable sufferings since past many decades, adding, that today when the nation wants to pay tributes to its martyrs, leaders, activists and people  are stopped by putting them in jails or under house arrests and imposing restrictions . He stated that this standard practice of repression by the state authorities can in no way weaken the resolve of people rather it strengthens it further.

Mirwaiz said that only the resolution of Kashmir issue can guarantee permanent peace and  security to the entire south Asia  He said that result oriented tripartite dialogue between India, Pakistan and Kashmiri resistance leadership is the only medium to solve the issue once and for all. He said that times has come that India shuns its policy of obduracy and start a meaningful dialogue with the people of Kashmir and Pakistan.

Appealing people to assemble at Eidgah and observe complete strike on May 21, Mirwaiz said that people should march towards martyrs grave yard Eidgah to pay tributes to the martyrs and show their complete resolve towards freedom struggle.

During the rally senior AAC leaders including GN Zaki, Nazir Ahmad Ronga, Mahmmad Shafi Khan, Prof HU Jeelani, D R Sharma, Abdul Gani Shah, and representatives of the party from various districts,addressed the gathering. A resolution was also passed on the occasion.

Later a rally of AAC workers and  activists first  marched from Mirwaiz Manzil to Martyrs graveyard and later went to the residence of  APHC Chairman’s,demanding lifting of restrictions on his movement.  They raised slogans in favour of Azadi and Islam.

Meanwhile, Hurriyat spokesman has strongly condemned the Govt. crackdown on Hurriyat leaders and activists in view of the Eidgah Chalo programme The spokesman condemned the house arrest of senior Hurriyat leaders, advocate Shahid-ul-Islam, Zaffar Akbar Bhat, and Syed Saleem Geelani and detention of Mushtaq Ahmed Sofi and other leaders and  flayed the authorities for raiding the houses of Senior leaders including Javaid Ahmad Mir, Er Hilal Ahmad war and other  party activists.

Meanwhile, Mirwaiz expressed deep shock and grief over the Ramban fatal accident.  Expressing solidarity with the bereaved families, Mirwaiz prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls.

Srinagar: Expressing her gratitude to the people of South Kashmir for having reposed their trust once again in her party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti Tuesdaysaid the fact that common masses are identifying themselves with the victory of the PDP candidates in the Lok Sabha elections highlights the zooming index of hope in the state.

According to a statement issued to KNS, she was addressing a large public meeting at Anantnag today organized by the party to felicitate her on election to the Lok Sabha. Senior party leaders Abdul Rehman Veeri MLA, Sofi Ab Gaffar MLA, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain MLA, Rafi Ahmad Mir MLA, zone presidents Syed Farooq Andrabi, Adv Sheikh Javed , Ab Rahim Rather and others were also present on this occasion.

Mehbooba said the general mood of celebration in Kashmir over the victory of the PDP in all the three parliamentary seats reflects the fact that the hope generated by the arrival of PDP in 2002 has been rekindled with this emphatic endorsement of party’s agenda. She said this election has also restored the sanctity of electoral process in the state and it would help in finally removing the impression that the representatives from Kashmir are elected by someone other than the people of this place. “We will go into the parliament with the confidence and mandate of our people to speak with authority about the problems facing the state and will seek their resolution by involving public opinion both in and outside the house,” said Mehbooba.

She said this election had clearly established that political accountability had taken roots in the state. She said the complete rout of the ruling coalition could not have been avoided in any free and fair exercise of vote as this government had violated all established norms of governance, integrity, fairness and justice. “It is a matter of satisfaction that PDP is now in a position to provide a better alternative and people have extended their approval to our party’s program and want us to carry forward the process of reconciliation and reconstruction started in 2002 but blocked by the present government” Mehbooba said.

“By giving a clear verdict against the government the people have established that they are the masters and they would conduct the audit of all political parties and vote only for those who have a fair record of performance, progressive agenda and a credible leadership,” she said.

The PDP president said though it was initially with the support of the people of South Kashmir that the PDP had been able to make a difference to the state politics, but now this party has emerged as a credible force in real sense. She said the party leadership has tried to establish it as an inclusive forum for all the regions, communities and ethnicities to combine their energies for the welfare of the state and resolving its political problems. “Our strength is in connecting the diverse features of the state and its people and converging their aspirations and energies along creative channels,” she said and added for South Kashmir the projects and programs of development that had been started by the PDP led coalition would be revived in right earnest by in right earnest by the next government.

Mehbooba said while her party would have to grapple with immense problems facing the state on all fronts, she was particularly concerned about the unemployment of youth. She said the energies of our young population are getting wasted as a result of wrong policies adopted so far and the PDP would seriously work for creating the right environment for the youth to harness their energies and improve their capacities to be able to contribute to their own welfare and that of the state.  

Grieved over Girl’s killing at Tosamaidan, pays rich tributes to Mirwaiz, Lone

Srinagar: While terming the shifting of a central jail detainee Muzaffar Ahmad Dar to the Tihar jail who was from very long time in central jail Srinagar, arrest of Dr. Nisar-ul-Hassan and slapping of PSA over a dozen Hurriyat leaders and activists including Abdul Gani Bhat Sopore, Asadullah Parray, Feroz Ahmad Magray, Abdul Hamid Paray, Mehraj-ud-din Nanda, Zubair Ahmad Turay, Ishfaq Ahmad, Aarif Ahmad and Mohammad Yousuf Teeli as an worst example of ‘state-terrorism’, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani said ‘Omar Abdullah led government are frustrated by their humiliating defeat in recent election drama and now he is targeting the pro-freedom people for this.’

While expressing his deep concern over the continuous detention of Hurriyat leaders Ameer-e-Hamza, Ghulam Ahmad Bangi, Bashir Ahmad Saleh, Aashiq Qadir Lone, Abdul Rashid Rather, Mohammad Shafi Dhono and Javed Ahmad Dhono, chairman Hurriyat said that the Hurriyat Conference is a political organization who in peaceful manner present their viewpoint before the public and government should face this organization on political turf instead of using force, pressure and hooliganism and the state power should not be misused to suppress the wishes and aspirations of general people. In Tuesday’s press release, Geelani sahab said that a youth from Pattan Baramullah Muzuffar Ahmad Dar who was from last 6 years detained in Central Jail Srinagar and a trial was also going on in a Srinagar Court against him but some 10 days back he was suddenly shifted to Tihar jail. He said that this shifting doesn’t have any justification and this activity is out of political vengeance. Supreme Court of India has passed a ruling that a detainee should be held in the nearest jail to his home and an under trial should never be shifted to any other place, because he can’t reach to the every hearing of the court which will prolong his detention. While pressing for the immediate return of the said prisoner and his companion Dawood, Geelani said that mistreating and misbehaving with the detainees is not only against the international laws, but it is also the violation of basic human rights which is unacceptable in every society and religion. While terming the arrest of Dr. Nisar-ul-Hassan and registration of FIR against him as unjustified and illegal, Hurriyat chairman demanded his immediate release and said that the said doctor is not any anti-social or destructive person and his all activities are of political nature. Strongly condemning the use of PSA like black law against a dozen of Hurriyat leaders and activists, Geelani said that this law has been termed as “Law Less Law” by Amnesty International while as world bodies have rejected the prolonged imprisonment of any person in the name of preventive custody, but this law less Law is very commonly used in Jammu and Kashmir and hundreds of citizens have been detained under this law. Neither any trail is held against them nor any proper reason is given for their detention. Geelani sahab appealed the world community that they should raise their voice against the unabated use of PSA by Jammu and Kashmir government and use their influence in releasing the Kashmiri political detainees.

Expressing his deep sorrow and grief over the killing of a girl and injuring of another child in Tosamaidan firing range by an un-exploded shell, chairman Geelani said: “The huge presence of Indian Army in Kashmir is costing the innocent lives of Kashmiris and here people are living in a very fearful and terrifying situations.” While expressing his sympathy and condolence with the affected families, Geelani said that Umar led government is directly responsible for this fresh killing because government is showing their criminal laziness in vacating this meadow. Geelani said that these types of blasts have claimed about 100 innocent lives so far.

Meanwhile, Geelani while paying rich tributes to the Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq, Khwaja Abdul Gani Lone and the martyrs of Hawal, said:  “Our freedom movement has become very precious by the sacrifices and these sacrifices demand us that this movement should be carried forwards to its logical conclusion.” He said that the Kashmiri nation can’t forget those who have sacrificed their lives for the honour, dignity and freedom of Jammu and Kashmir and our nation is indebted to them for this. While remembering Mirwaz Mohammad Farooq and Khawaja Abdul Gani Lone, Geelani prayed to Almighty Allah for their best place in Jinnah.

Party discussed concrete measures to bounce back;

New Recruitment policy to be scrapped, Power Tariff to be reviewed

Had offered resignation on Guru’s execution but few colleagues prevailed: CM

Srinagar: After over seven hours of hectic deliberations on the probable causes that led to its debacle in just concluded Lok Sabha elections in the state, National Conference on Tuesday finished its retrospective meeting at party headquarters here pledging to take certain pro-people concrete measures in order to bounce back with full strength.

A senior party leader and minister told KNS that besides various other issues the execution of Mohammad Afzal Guru, 2010 civilian killings, employment policies and lack of proper mobilization topped the feedback coming from block level party cadres. The meeting that was attended by almost all the legislators, district presidents, district secretaries and block presidents started at 10 O’clock was presided over by Dr Farooq Abdullah.

In his address, party sources told KNS, Dr Farooq said that NC has faced major challenges in the past as well and the latest poll result should not demoralize the party cadres. “We have seen such challenges in past as well. We should not live in past as a bright future is ahead. We should pledge to work hard and bounce back with full strength,” a senior NC leader told KNS while quoting Dr Farooq Abdullah saying in the meeting.

He added that at around 2 pm Dr Farooq left the meeting because of some engagement and the meeting continued to discuss the issues threadbare under the chair of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. In his address Omar accepted the responsibility of the debacle attributing party’s worst performance to many issues like misunderstanding over execution of Mohammad Afzal Guru, mishandling of 2010 unrest, new recruitment policy, flat power tariff and the administrative inertia.

Sources in the meeting said that the Chief Minister observed that Opposition Peoples Democratic Party that recorded a major win in Kashmir had exploited the execution of Mohammad Afzal Guru. “We need to make people understand that there were no signatures of Chief Minister required on Afzal Guru’s execution file. There was no case registered against Guru in the state and the signatures of the chief ministers were no required. There decision was entirely taken by the central government,” the NC leader told KNS while quoting the Chief Minister.

The chief minister also admitted before the meeting that the situation in 2010 was mishandled which resulted into over 120 civilian killings. “Those killings could have been prevented to a large extent,” the NC leader told KNS while quoting the chief minister.

The block president present in the meeting complained of poor liaison between the party cadres and the district administration. “We told the meeting that the poor liaison between NC cadres and the administration was one of the reasons which is why the NC had to face the brunt,” an NC block president told KNS.

In his concluding remarks, the Chief Minister hinted at scrapping of new recruitment policy, reviewing of electricity tariff and certain other pro people measures which would be taken before the assembly elections scheduled to be held late this year. The meeting also decided to gear up and chalk out its block level programmes to reach out to people ahead of the assembly elections.