Mirwaiz to Delhi:Is seeking resolution of K-issue terrorism?

Srinagar, Mar 15: Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Friday asked New Delhi whether seeking peaceful resolution of Kashmir is ‘terrorism’?
Addressing the Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid Srinagar, Mirwaiz claimed that the Government of India was “resorting to various tactics to suppress the voices of Kashmiris”.
“We won’t succumb to these threats and want resolution of Kashmir politically,” he said.
Mirwaiz said that the crackdowns and summons by National Investigating Agency (NIA), arresting of people, slapping of PSAs, and sending prisoners to jails outside Kashmir, were only done to “suppress” Kashmiris.
“These things are not new to us. We have seen them since 1931. Kashmiri voices can’t be suppressed through military power. Mirwaiz Yusuf Shah, martyrs Mirwaiz Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone all fought for the rights of Kashmiris. I have been done the same since the age of 17,” he said adding, “We are not going to bow down and Delhi can’t force us into submission by intimidating us.”
Mirwaiz said Kashmiris were not “fighting against any religion, government, or country but against policies of government of India.”
“We want fulfilling of commitments made by India, and Pakistan with the Kashmiris. Is talking about Kashmir issue terrorism? We represent the sentiments of Kashmiris. The Indian media is creating an impression that those who talk about Kashmir issue are terrorists,” he said.
“If this is terrorism then which way are India and its people going? We are not fighting war against any country. We remind about commitments India had made with Kashmir. Is it anti-national?” he asked. “Political space is being curbed. Kashmiris are being pushed to guns and forced to become suicide bombers,” he said.
Mirwaiz asked Kashmiris to be united and “defeat the designs” of Delhi.
“Ours is a unanimous struggle. My stand is same, what we have said in Kashmir to former prime ministers of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, that Kashmir issue has to be resolved either by allowing Kashmiris right to self-determination or India, Pakistan and Kashmiris has to sit together and find a political solution to the dispute,” he said.
He said that Jamia Masjid has been an epitome to raise voices of Kashmiris since 1931. He claimed that the Government of India was attempting to “change the demographic nature” of Kashmir.
Mirwaiz also denounced the massacre of 49 people in two New Zealand mosques saying it was an attack on humanity.
The NIA Thursday issued fresh summons to Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to appear for questioning at its headquarters in New Delhi in connection with a funding case on March 18. On February 26, the agency had carried out searches at premises of various separatist leaders, including the Mirwaiz, in connection with the case related to alleged militancy funding in Jammu and Kashmir.
He had been asked to appear before the NIA on March 11 but the Mirwaiz had expressed his inability to join the investigation in Delhi fearing for his security in view of the “conditions of hostility”.
After prayers, supporters of Mirwaiz took out a rally against the Mirwaiz’s summoning.