People from Kargil to Chenab Valley part of Kashmir struggle: Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

Accusing New Delhi of “undermining” the Kashmir struggle, the chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday said the political struggle in the state “lives deep” in the heart of every citizen from Kargil to Chenab Valley.
Responding to statements by central leaders that Kashmir problem was limited to few districts only, Mirwaiz said these “deceitful and divisive” statements are issued by people at the helm in Government of India.
“The political struggle of people of J&K for self-determination is not confined to Kashmir Valley only but is spread from Kargil to Chenab Valley including Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Poonch and other areas. People of these areas fully support it and are also carrying it forward,” he said, addressing Friday gathering at historic Jamia Masjid here.
He said repeated shutdowns, peaceful protests and condemnation of “state oppression” by people of Chenab Valley show “people’s complete support and commitment to the just cause of Kashmir struggle.”
“The fact is that it is a section of people in two-and-a half districts in Jammu division that does not support the people’s movement,” Mirwaiz said.
He said the people of Chenab Valley have made a great contribution and offered priceless sacrifices in the freedom struggle which can never be forgotten. “Although Hurriyat leadership is being barred from visiting these areas and meeting their brethren, people of Chenab Valley despite all odds are in a constant touch with the pro-freedom leadership,” said Mirwaiz, who was allowed to address Friday gathering after being released from house detention of six days.
He said Kashmir struggle is based on the “principle of justice” and people are committed to continue their fight for the right to self determination.
Mirwaiz said the unity in resistance leadership in Kashmir has “unnerved” New Delhi which is trying its level best to “discredit the movement and its leadership.”
“Delhi is now trying to mislead people in India and the international community that Kashmir’s freedom movement is confined to few districts and communities,” he said. “Let those in power in India get it clear that jailing, detaining, arresting or gagging the pro-movement leadership will not affect the determination of the people and their firmness in striving for their political aspirations and to decide their destiny.”
Mirwaiz said Kashmir struggle is purely people’s movement. “This movement will remain alive as long as it lives in the hearts and minds of the people, whether the leadership is there to guide them or is behind bars,” he said.
Mirwaiz paid glowing tributes to the two militants killed in a gun-battle in Sopore on Thursday, stating that Kashmir struggle has “entered into a very crucial phase.”
“And the nature of sacrifices offered by the Kashmiri youth, we are duty bound to take the ongoing freedom struggle to its ultimate goal,” he said.
He said even in the holy and sacred month of Ramadhan, authorities don’t refrain from “committing atrocities” on people as restrictions continue to be imposed on movement of pro-freedom leaders and activists.
He also condemned the continuous detention of Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani who is not even being allowed to offer Friday prayers.
“All the pro-freedom leaders and youth who remain lodged in various jails across Kashmir should be released forthwith,” he said.
Mirwaiz also felicitated people of Kashmir and the entire Muslim world on the auspicious occasion of Ramadan and prayed for the resolution of all the problems being confronted by the Muslim Ummah.

Geelani barred from Friday prayers again
Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani, who continues to be under house detention, was again barred from offering congregational prayers on Friday.
“Syed Ali Geelani continues to be under house arrest despite his ailing health and was barred from offering Friday congregational prayers. Even during Ramadan, he is not allowed to move out and perform his religious obligations,” the Hurriyat spokesman Ayaz Akbar said in a statement.
He said Geelani continues to be under house detention for the past “several years.” “It is unjustified and holds no ethical ground,” he said.
Lashing out at the state administration, Akbar said: “Indian rulers’ approach is biased and fanatical. They do not even follow their so-called secular theory. They follow their stale and selective dogma.”
“On one hand, Amarnath pilgrims are being provided all facilities and the administration utilizes all its resources to facilitate their pilgrimage, but contrary to this, the resistance leadership is caged and Muslim community reels under curfewed Ramadan and even restrictions are imposed on Eid and other religious festivals,” Akbar said, condemning the continuous house detention of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leaders Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai and Muhammad Ashraf Laya.
The spokesman appealed to the international human rights organizations to take cognizance of continued house detention of Geelani.

Kashmir struggle exemplary: Malik
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik on Friday termed Kashmiris’ ongoing resistance movement as “exemplary struggle.”
“The struggle for which highly-educated youth are sacrificing their lives cannot be defeated by tyranny, oppression, false propaganda and intimidations. Martyrdom of two youth Ajaz Ahmad Mir of Brath-Kalan (Sopore) and Basharat Ahmad Sheikh of Bomai (Sopore) is continuity of the sacred struggle. More the tyranny increases, nearer is its end and today we are witnessing increasing oppression and tyranny which means its end is near now,” he said in a statement.
Malik said the “increasing oppression by Indian forces” is bound to “evoke stiff resistance” from Kashmiris as history stands witness to the fact that no people’s movement ever has been defeated by military might or false propaganda.
“Today on one side, the Indian forces and police have unleashed a reign of terror against Kashmiris and, on the other, a vicious propaganda and intimidations are going on against resistance movement and leadership,” Malik said.
India’s “biased” media has launched a campaign to demonize Kashmiris and all this is intended to defame and defeat their resistance movement against illegal Indian control, the JKLF chief said.
“Our young and highly educated youth are rendering invaluable sacrifices for the freedom of Kashmir. These youth have been tortured, humiliated, oppressed and hence pushed to the wall by India and today they are compelled to sacrifice lives for truth and freedom,” he said.
Paying rich tributes to militants who died in Sopore, Malik said: “The sacrifices of these martyrs will never go in vain and no stone will be left unturned while taking this scared movement to its desired goal.”
Condemning “ill-treatment” meted out to Kashmiri detainees in jails and police stations, JKLF chairman said: “Thousands have been jailed by so-called biggest democracy and today in the holy month of Ramazan, police stations and jails are filled with Kashmiri prisoners who irrespective of their age and gender are being terrorized and oppressed during incarceration and even ailing leaders are not being provided with any medical facility.”