Srinagar, Nov 14 (KNO): Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Molvi Umar Farooq Friday said that the recent bomb blast in New Delhi in which 12 people going about their daily life lost their lives, and scores sustained gruesome injuries is very sad and painful.
“Such incidents shock and shake up humans,” Mirwaiz said while addressing the Friday congregation at the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar, as per a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
“But it is extremely unfortunate that such tragedies are exploited even before facts are established, with the hype and drama created around them by the media with the help of ‘inside sources’, that feeds into a narrative eager to immediately associate it with a particular religion or community, and criminalise them. Due to this our children and youth studying and working in cities and states across India overnight become suspect, fearing for their safety, while it creates anxiety among people here,” Mirwaiz said.
“I, and all the political and religious organisations that I am a part of, have always condemned acts of violence and terror. People of Kashmir are the first to empathise with victims when such incidents occur as they understand the pain caused by such incidents from their own experience of decades. What happened in Delhi, No cause, however right can justify it. No religion can permit it,” he said.
“For me, dialogue — talking and listening to each other with respect — is the best way to resolve issues and build bridges. I have also repeatedly said that the pulpit of Jama Masjid places upon me the responsibility of speaking for the people. And the people of Kashmir are distressed and disempowered. While the larger issue remains unaddressed, even the autonomy constitutionally given by the Govt of India to the people of J&K, was snatched in August 2019 when it was downgraded to a Union Territory, and people’s land and job rights taken from them. Immediately their vulnerability and fear of demographic change was real upon them, curtailment of all freedom of expression, constant surveillance, fear of arbitrary dismissals from service and attachment of land and properties, constant raids and arrests by investigative agencies, compounded by daily issues of rising unemployment among the youth and shrinking job avenues due to removal of 35A and a discriminating reservation policy have all together created a situation that has aggravated the sense of hopelessness and resentment,” Mirwaiz added.
“It is my request to the authorities at the helm of affairs and decision making, to seriously relook at their approach of dealing with the people of Jammu and Kashmir only through the prism of security and law and order, and instead as late Vajpayee ji once said from the “dayira of insaniyat and jamhooriyat“. Of course it’s for them to pay heed to it or to ignore it. As for us, hoping for the better and faith in Almighty is our imaan,” he added—(KNO)