Srinagar, Jan 30: Blaming Government of India for pushing Kashmiri youth towards militancy, Hurriyat-M chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Wednesday said the educated youth give-up their studies and take arms out of “sheer rage”.
Addressing media at Hurriyat-M office in Rajbagh after Bilal Gani Lone rechristened his faction of Peoples Conference as Jammu and Kashmir People’s Independent Movement, Mirwaiz said, “It is the government of India which pushes Kashmiri youth towards militancy.
“You see young educated youth give-up their studies, desert their homes and take up arms. It is really painful to carry coffins of teenaged boys being killed by forces every now and then in Kashmir,” Mirwaiz added
He said the youth who take to arms “are not well trained guerrillas; they join militant ranks because of the oppressive policies adopted by the government of India. How many of them have crossed the border for arms training?”
Mirwaiz said New Delhi should not be irked by his telephonic conversation with Pakistan foreign minister Shah MahmoodQureshi as the country is a party to Kashmir dispute.
Mirwaiz asked why did Qureshi’s phone call irk Government of India while the fact remains that Pakistan is a party to dispute.
Mirwaiz also said that Pakistan has also expressed serious concerns over the deteriorating situation in Kashmir.
“Yesterday Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah MehmoodQureshi called me and expressed his concern over worsening situation in Kashmir. He also expressed disappointment over the negative response of India to Pakistan premier Imran Khan’s efforts aimed at resolving all pending issues including Kashmir,” claimed Mirwaiz.
Mirwaiz said the Pak FM also told him that ‘Kashmir day’ is being observed in Pakistan on February 05 for which all political parties have been invited.
“Besides he reiterated his stand that Pakistan will continue its support to Kashmir cause and highlight human rights violations being perpetuated by India in the valley,” said Mirwaiz.
The day, he said will be observed as a mark of protest against the “government of India’s reluctance to solve the burning issue of Kashmir”.
Mirwaiz also said “Pakistan highlighting the human rights violations committed by Indian soldiers in Kashmir irk New Delhi the most.
“Should the world not know of it? If India cares so much about its image let them walk their talk of being a democracy and resolve the dispute democratically through talks and hold the promised referendum,” Mirwaiz said.
He said while “on one hand India talks about Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat, and Jamhooriyat but on ground, the fact it that they have unleashed worst-ever policy of repression here, and everyday our youth are being killed mercilessly.”
Welcoming United Nations (UN) recent report on Kashmir, Mirwaiz said the recommendations of the global body on human rights should be implemented in letter and spirit.
“We welcome recent report of UN on Kashmir in which the world body has mentioned about rights violations. Now we want the recommendations to be implemented in letter and spirit. We want rights violations be stopped and all black laws like AFSPA, PSA repealed,” he said.
Mirwaiz said that Hurriyat has always wanted to work as a bridge to narrow gaps between two neighboring countries.
“We have always supported dialogue, but it seems that India, other than blaming Pakistan, has nothing to say. We want to act as a bridge between India and Pakistan to bring them closer,” he added.
