Category: Union Territory

Srinagar: While commuting over the statement of expected future Prime Minister of India Narinder Modi “I will deliver justice from Kashmir to Kanyakumari”, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G), Syed Ali Geelani said that India is doing huge injustice with the Kashmiri nation and from last 6 decades this country is trying to suppress the freedom sentiment and right of self-determination of Kashmiri people. He said while addressing Narinder Modi that if justice will be done with Kashmiries then it will be really an act of welfare for the Indian as well as millions of Asian people and the whole South Asian region will enter the new era of peace, stability and development. In Sundays press release, Hurriyat chairman said that though the birth year of Modi is 1950, but he will be definitely aware of the tragedy of 1947 when only 72 days after the liberation of India and Pakistan from the forced occupation of Britain, India landed its troops in Jammu and Kashmir and forcibly enslaved the comparatively weak and unarmed people of Kashmir. Then India itself took this issue to UN where this international body also termed the occupation of Jammu and Kashmir as injustice and advocated that right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Indian rulers and its first Prime Minister himself have promised the Kashmiri people in parliament and in Lalchowck Srinagar that “India will not hold Kashmir forcibly with it and when situation will improve, Kashmiris will be given a chance to decide their future, which will be respected in any way. If Kashmiries will not decide to remain with India then it will be definitely painful for me, but we do not favour forced marriages”. According to a statement issued to KNS, Geelani said that India have done very injustice with the people of Kashmir by not fulfilling their promises and if future expected Prime Minister of India Mr. Modi is sincere about his promise of doing justice, then he should undertake to fulfill the broken promises and Kashmiries should be given a chance to choose their future by holding plebiscite in this state. Hurriyat chairman said that Narinder Modi expressed his sorrow for not contributing to the freedom movement of India, but he has a chance to understand the freedom movement of Kashmir in its real perspective and give them their right to self-determination. The pro-freedom leader said that the Kashmiri nation is struggling for their freedom from last 67 years and India want to suppress this just struggle by using its military might and she is doing grave injustice with Kashmiries in every possible ways. Not only lakhs of innocent people were killed but thousands of people have been subjected to enforced custodial disappearances and thousands of people are buried in unmarked and unclaimed graves. Indian judiciary has also miserably failed in providing justice to the oppressed people of Kashmir and Shaheed Mohammad Maqbool Bhat and Shaheed Mohammad Afzal Guru like sons of Kashmir have not only been hanged without completing the formalities of justice, but even their dead bodies were not returned to their families. Geelani Sahab said that if Narinder Modi is really serious in his promise of justice then first of all he should at least accept the injustice done with Kashmiries and then try to eliminate these injustices. Narinder Modi had said in his statement that ‘the new government will take decisions according to the wishes and aspiration of people’, but time will prove that these statements were given for the sake of statements or anything concrete or truth is hiding in these statements. Geelani said that the Kashmiri people are in no way enemies of India or its people but they want that justice should be done with them and their rights should be respected. (KNS)

NC starts retrospection, calls for series of meetings

Core Group to meet on Monday, party office bearers to meet on Tuesday

Srinagar: After facing a complete rout in Lok Sabha elections, the National Conference is all set to go for a formal retrospection at party level and a series of meetings have been called in this regard.

Reliable sources in the party told KNS that the party president Dr Farooq Abdullah will chair a meeting of the party core group comprising of over 20 members including some special invitees at party headquarters. Pertinently, Dr Farooq who was in Delhi to attend the last union cabinet meeting is arriving in valley on Monday.

According to a senior NC leader, the core group is scheduled to deliberate on various important issues that have surfaced after the ‘unexpected’ results in juts concluded Lok Sabha elections. A senior NC leader said as to know what led to a humiliating defeat of all three NC candidates despite having a good network of its cadres across the Valley, on Tuesday the National Conference high command has called for a meeting of its state, provincial, district upto block level party office bearers besides its legislators and the candidates who in vain fought the Lok Sabha elections this year at Nawah-e-Subh complex.

The meeting will deliberate on the probable reasons behind the defeat of coalition candidates especially in Kashmir valley. “All the MLAs, MLCs, district presidents, block presidents, district secretaries and the candidates who lost the elections have been invited to attend the meeting,” a senior NC leader told KNS wishing not to be named.

He said that the meeting will deliberate on key issues from pre-poll alliance with its coalition partner Congress, cross voting, impact of national issues, Afzal Guru hanging, 2010 killings, local developmental issues and a wide disconnect with the youth.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held a meeting with some of his cabinet colleagues and party MLAs tacking stock of over political situation in the state. A senior leader of the NC who participated in the meeting said that they deliberated on various issues saying that a comprehensive strategy will be chalked out to gear up before the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today sought feedback from people in order to know the causes behind the rejection of NC candidates in Lok Sabha elections.

Omar tweeted: “[email protected] is my email. I’d like to hear from you as to the reasons for the enormous setback (the) NC has faced in these elections.”

The chief minister informed the public that he has already started retrospection following the surprising defeat but wanted to have the feedback from the ground. “I’ve started the process of introspection and am listening to voices within the party but I need to hear from people other than colleagues (too). I want to learn, I need to learn. I’d like to try and make amends. I’ll give it my best shot and I’d rather fail trying than not try at all,” he wrote on the twitter.

Sources in the NC said that the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has taken the defeat of NC candidate very seriously as according to sources the same can have a ripple effect in the upcoming assembly elections. “What the NC leadership is worried is that its own ministers have not performed well in their respective constituencies. This can have serious impact on the overall party performance in the upcoming assembly elections,” a senior leader in NC told KNS, pleading anonymity.

The latest Lok Sabha electoral statistics show that opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that has bagged all three seats in Valley besides getting a considerable voter share in Jammu region has increased tally of its assembly segments from 19 to 39 this time.

What is worrying in these election commission figures is that out of the 20 assembly segments going in favour of PDP, its arch rival NC is losing 15 assembly segments including the most important five assembly segments in Srinagar city alone. Presently all the eight assembly segments in district Srinagar are represented by the National Conference in legislative assembly. (KNS)

‘Policy of suppression, oppression will be resisted strongly’

Srinagar: In connection with the Hafta Shohda Programme to remember shaheed-e-Milaat Moulvi Mohammad Farooq, Shaheed-e-Hurriyat Khwaja Abdul Gani lone, martyrs of Hawala and entire Kashmir, Hurriyat Conference (M) today organized a seminar titled “Hawal incident: a bloody chapter in Kashmir history” at Hurriyat headquarters at Rajbagh.

Hurriyat Conference (M) Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq In his inaugural address,  while paying rich tributes to Shaheed-e-Milaat, Shaheed-e-Hurriyat, martyrs of Hawala and entire Kashmir, said that their sacrifices for the cause were the priceless assets of the freedom struggle.

According to a statement issued to KNS, asserting that it was the duty of Kashmiris to protect the sacrifices of their martyrs for the success of freedom struggle, Mirwaiz stated that the so called claimants of democracy opened indiscriminate fire on the rally of mourners- mourning the martyrdom of Shaheed-e-Millat at hawal in 1990 during which they killed over 70 people and injured hundreds of others. He said that such example of brutality is rarely found in the history. He said that real motive of Hafta Shohda programme is to reaffirm the resolve to take the mission of martyrs, who laid their lives for the sacred cause, to its logical conclusion.

Stressing that Kashmir was standing at a crucial juncture, Mirwaiz stated that Kashmiris have to give loud and clear message to the world community that Kashmir was not a dispute of borders, neither it is an internal issue of India nor a problem of economic depravation, but it was an internationally recognized dispute, adding, the world community should respect the will and aspirations of Kashmir and play their dutiful role in solving the long vexed dispute. He stated the change in dispensation in India would have no bearings on Kashmiri people till their policies and thinking shows a radical shift from the current standpoint. He said that India should give-up its “policy of delaying” in the context of addressing the Kashmir issue since Kashmiris  are and remain committed to the sacred cause. Mirwaiz said that it was  Shaheed-e-Millat who in his speech in 1975 at Gool Bagh proposed the alternative solution of a  tripartite dialogue between India Pakistan and the people of Kashmir  to solve the Kashmir issue and APHC believes that this alternative can provide the opportunity to bring  lasting peace in the subcontinent.

In connection with Kashmir solution, Mirwaiz stated that Hurriyat has a clear stand. He said that if Government of India bases its policy on reality and initiates a meaningful dialogue by inviting Pakistani leadership and Kashmiri resistance leadership, Hurriyat would lend its full support to the process. But if they continue their policy of suppression and military repression it will be resisted strongly at all levels.

He said that the Indian defence expenditure was increasing year after year as billions of dollars were being spent on buying weapons and arms while around half of the Indias population was living below the poverty line. Mirwaiz stated the rulers in Delhi should apprise people in India about the historical context to the Kashmir dispute. He  said Kashmiris have already rejected the so called polls in Kashmir and have conveyed their message loud and clear.

Terming Kashmir as a police state, Mirwaiz stated that there is no democracy in Kashmir. He said all the significant decisions are taken by army and police to run the Kashmir affairs. He said that Kashmiris would continue to fight for their freedom till they would achieve it. He stated that Kashmiris would never forget its martyrs and neither those who perpetrated violence against them.

Mirwaiz Condemned the continuous arrest  and detention of pro freedom leaders and youth and demanded their immediate release. Later on the occasion, some survivors of the Hawal incident recalled their bone chilling experiences of the black day. A short film portraying the hawal incident was also shown to the big gathering.

A galaxy of people including senior hurriyat leaders participated in the seminar and spoke on the topic. Professor Abdul Gani Bhat, Agha Syed Mujtaba Abbas, Javaid Ahmad Mir, Nazir Ahmad Ronga, Nair Ahmad Baba, Engineer Hilal Ahmad War, Hakim Abdul Rashid, Shahid Saleem, Ghulam Hassan Mir and other senior leaders were among the prominent to speak on the occasion. Rehman shamas opened the session by reading a write up of Hassan sopori on Hawal incident. Senior Hurriyat leaders including Bilal Gani Lone, Musadiq Adil, Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam, Advocate Abdul Majid Banday, Dr. Ghulam Mohammad Huji, Sofi Mushtaq Ahmad, Chodhry Shaheen, Syed Bashir Andrabi, GN Zaki, Jaffar Kashmiri, Yasmeen Raja, and Mohtarama Fatima also participated in the seminar. (KNS)

Expresses gratitude to people of J&K for party’s historic win;  

‘People of Kashmir have spokesman decisively’

Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, on Sundaysaid that people of Kashmir through their clear mandate in favour of PDP has further strengthened the party’s resolve to work towards accomplishing its unfinished agenda of securing dignified peace, lasting stability and inclusive prosperity for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to a statement issued to KNS, Mufti while congratulating Narendra Modi for his overwhelming success across the country hoped that Modi’s developmental agenda will be intensive and political agenda inclusive. “We congratulate Mr Modi and his party on their outstanding victory. We hope his developmental agenda is intensive and his political agenda is inclusive.  That is what is needed and expected of him in his new role,” Mufti said.

He hoped that the new Government at the Centre, under the leadership of Modi, will take tangible measures to address the causes of alienation and trust deficit in Kashmir and work towards finding long-lasting solution of the problem plaguing the region for the past more than six decades.

“At the national level also people have voted and given a decisive mandate to the BJP for a strong and stable government at the Centre. Mr Narendra Modi has got the political and electoral legitimacy to head the new Government as the Prime Minister. We must all respect this legitimacy that has been accorded to him by the people of the country.”

Meanwhile, the PDP patron and the former chief minister said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have spoken– and ‘spoken decisively’. “As I extend my gratitude to the people for reposing their faith and trust in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ensuring a remarkable and historic victory for the party, I am in no doubt, at all, as to what it means.

I am especially humbled by the overwhelming endorsement of my party’s political and economic agenda by the State’s young population who have started playing decisive role in democratic exercises as is evident from the results of the recent Lok Sabha polls. Time has come for the State’s youth to fully assert themselves to become active partners in political decision-making processes.”

Mufti said: “I compliment the PDP cadres from the core of my heart for having successfully and effectively carried the party’s political and economic agenda to the grassroots level. They sacrificed their personal interests for the larger objective of ensuring peace and dignity for the State and its people and it is because of the untiring efforts of the PDP cadres that their party has today become a real people’s movement across Jammu and Kashmir. I also express my appreciation for the Election Commission of India (ECI) for ensuring by and large free, fair and peaceful elections in Jammu & Kashmir with the endorsement of the Central Government led by Dr Manmohan Singh. Equally commendable is the role played by the State Administration in accomplishing this drawn-out and massive democratic exercise smoothly.”

The PDP patron said that the results of the Lok Sabha polls make it amply clear that the people of the State have come together with their powerful voice and expressed their will in un-ambiguous verdict. They have affirmed our course. They have told us to move forward.

Jammu & Kashmir is at the threshold of a momentous transformation and it today needs, more than ever before, a caring government, which only a truly committed political party can provide. I reiterate my party’s resolve to work hand-in-hand with the progressive and democratic forces in the country and the region to facilitate dignified resolution of the Kashmir issue and the issues confronting Jammu and Kashmir.

“I visualize a space of dignity, opportunity and prosperity for the people my people in the paradigm of friendship and cooperative relationship between India and Pakistan as envisioned in PDP’s Self-Rule document.  The State can’t remain aloof from the massive economic progress taking place in the country and the region and our enterprising young generation has to be provided a more congenial atmosphere to flourish and assimilate into the free and flourishing global market economy.”

The statement added: “I assure my people that PDP would work towards accomplishing its unfinished agenda of securing dignified peace, lasting stability and inclusive prosperity for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who have suffered countless miseries over the years. It would be our endeavor to carry the voice of Jammu & Kashmir to all parts of the country and use all forums including the Assembly, Parliament and other democratic platforms to secure the political and economic rights of the State and its people.”

Mufti said that he urged everybody, cutting across the political divide, let us make a new beginning, and move forward to confront the great challenges people of Jammu and Kashmir are facing. Let us rise as one to meet these defining challenges of our time, so that our future generations, thank us and say truly this was the turning point in J&K’s turbulent history. (KNS)

Necessary to reply questions that have a direct bearing on freedom movement: JKLF

Srinagar: Chairman Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Mohammad Yasin Malik will participate in People’s Court program organized by civil society (KCDCS). This was announced by JKLF spokesman in a press statement issued after a JKLF meeting held in this regard. Spokesman said that after the successful election boycott campaign in Kashmir pro-India circles started a malicious campaign against resistance parties and leaders. This was done to divert attention of people and international community from successful boycott and to make it doubtful. In this regard an Indian journalist and intellectual Prem Shankar Jha wrote a column in many news papers and which he leveled false and fabricated allegations on resistance circles especially JKLF. After this Pro-India PDP leader advocate Muzafar Ahmad Beigh in a press statement leveled Concocted allegations against hurriyat leaders of conspiring against PDP. Spokesman said that JKLF leaders and elders held a meeting in this regard in which the issue was discussed threadbare and participants submitted their opinions vis a vis participation in The proposed people’s court. Speakers in the meeting said that JKLF is an organization whose cadres and leaders are symbols of resistance and sacrifices. It will need volumes to compile these sacrifices and acts of resistance and the history of JKLF bears a witness to this fact. Speakers said that right from its founder father of Kashmiri nation martyr Mohammed Maqbool Butt till date, this organization has been striving and sacrificing for the sacred cause of freedom without the fear of Pain, sufferings and blames of accusers. Speakers said that JKLF has been doing its efforts openly, without ambiguity and we have never shied away from facing questions and queries regarding our political activities. Speakers said this is the organizations whose founder Mohammad Maqbool Butt stood firm before courts in India and Pakistan and replied the questions of people with confidence and it is this organization whose chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik chased a Pakistani American Mansoor Ajaz to Pakistani Supreme Court after he had leveled some fabricated accusations. In the meeting it was said that in public life questions are asked and most of the times enemies pose fabricated queries to defame and harm ones personality, organizations and movements and the allegations that have direct bearing on ones collective social life and political and freedom  movements often need a firm reply. Keeping this in view JKLF leadership decided that Chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik will himself participate in the proposed people’s court organized by civil society (KCDCS) and will give JKLF perspective In this regard.