Srinagar, May 4 (KNO) : Amid speculations that the Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik are all set to announce the protest program to protest against the frequent civilian killings in southern Kashmir, a question arises: Can Kashmir sustain another agitation?
This million dollar question may have an answer with the JRL itself, who must have deliberated over the issue and taken the stakeholders, which include traders, shopkeepers, transporters and other important segments of society on board.
Kashmir has immensely suffered on both economic front as well as human front as four consecutive agitations since 2008 followed by 2009, 2010 and the recent one triggered by Burhan Wani’s killing in year 2016 left more than 300 people dead, most of them teenagers. More than 10,000 sustained injuries in 2016 agitation and The chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has hinted that the JRL may announce a protest program in a joint presser on Saturday at Ahdoos hotel. He also said that JRL recently deliberated over the issue of civilian killing sin South Kashmir and is mulling a joint strategy to counter “repression.” A source told Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a joint program has already been framed and may be announced in Saturday’s presser.
What remains to be seen is whether the government would allow the joint pressure. Feelers are, the government won’t take this risk given the fact that the seat of governance has already shifted to summer capital Srinagar and all the government offices would open on Monday, the May 7 in Srinagar. “The venue choosen by the JRL is close to Lal Chowk and there is every apprehension of trouble,” a senior police officer said, wishing anonymity. “It seems too difficult for us to allow the JRL to address media at Ahdoos.”