Mirwaiz In Response To The Queries From Aalaw & Frontline | Kashmir

Urging people to repose trust in the separatist leadership, Hurriyat (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar

Farooq Friday responded to a host of serious questions raised by a facebook community on the role of Hurriyat in the dialogue process and other issues.

‘Aalaw’, the facebook community with more than 8000 followers, had written an open letter to Mirwaiz asking him to clarify his party’s stand on some of the crucial policy issues. Replying to the queries, Mirwaiz told Rising Kashmir that people have the right to question the separatist leadership, but at the same “they should trust us”.

About the talks with New Delhi, he said the real dialogue process virtually stopped in 2006. “We had a dialogue process with New Delhi and we proposed many things but not even a single proposal was accepted by the Indian authorities. So our stand is clear now, no dialogue until the proposed things are not implemented on ground.”

The Hurriyat (M) chief said his party will never consider the back channel negotiations as a dialogue process “until and unless India doesn’t agree to what we feel is important for improving ground situation for a meaningful and result oriented dialogue process that would ultimately lead us to amicable resolution of this long pending issue.”

One of the questions posed by ‘Aalaw’ to Mirwaiz was about his participation in a lunch programme attended by interlocutor, Radha Kumar, some mainstream politicians, a former Ikhwani (government gunman) and a PDP agent.

“We live in a society where we have friends and sometimes it becomes obligatory for us to participate in functions organized by them,” said Mirwaiz.

‘Aalaw’ had brought to fore Mirwaiz’s participation in the said function organized by a local editor at Manasbal.

“A friend of mine invited me for a lunch and it was a mere coincidence that the interlocutor and other pro-India politicians were also present there. It was just a social gathering and no conversation took place. I had no idea who others were invited.”

Miwiaz further said his participation in the function shouldn’t be taken as something that will harm the Kashmir cause.

“Our faith is not so weak that it will be shaken by mere participation in the social gatherings. People have the right to question, but they should trust us. Being at a place where the objectionable people are also present doesn’t mean that we have run away from our stand. People should trust us and we will uphold that trust at all costs.”

In response to the query as to why despite being a chief cleric, he was opposed to an idea of “Islamic State” for Jammu and Kashmir, Mirwaiz said in the present geo-political scenario such demand will weaken the Kashmir issue at the international level.

“I am not against the idea of an Islamic state. What our party believes is that Kashmir is a political issue and until and unless apolitical resolution doesn’t evolve, we have to take the struggle as it is. Once the people of the state are given the right to decide their future, they have the will to choose the destiny for the state.”

“At present we have to portray it as a political issue and have to take along all other communities. If we give it a religious overtone, the support at the international level will not be there for us. We don’t have to portray that our struggle is Muslim Kashmiris against the Hindu India. I don’t deny that the evolution of this issue is a result of Muslim Pakistan versus Hindu India but the times have changed.”

One of the questions posed by ‘Aalaw’ was about the role of Hurriyat (M) in helping the orphans, the widows and those who are languishing in different jails across India.

Mirwaiz acknowledged that his party has not done much for those who have suffered during the 20 years of turmoil.

“We do what we could with our available resources but I must acknowledge that it is not enough. We have a cell Dar-ul Khairat and we do help people who are in need but it is not that big.” He said Hurriyat (M) has not gone for any massive fund raising exercise keeping in view how much people have suffered economically during the past three years.

“But collectively, the society and leadership can do what will be more effective in helping those who are in real need. The community must help us so that those who have sacrificed for the freedom struggle should not suffer.”

Mirwaiz said his party provides legal aid to the prisoners. “But that is also not upto the level that we could help all. We try to help those who are lodged here but sometimes people don’t come to us and moreover, the lawyers outside the valley demand huge money to fight cases of our people. We are not able to help them. Our help to them is also limited.”

Open letter to Umar Farooq

Dear Brother in Islam, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq,

Assalamu Alikum,

Let me start by narrating an incident from the archives of Islamic History. The incident was the occurrence of Jung-e-Jamal (War of the Camel).

On one side was Assadullah Hazrate Ali bin Abdul Muttalib (Cousin and Son-in-Law of Muhammad (SAW) and on the other side was Ummul Momineen Hazrate Ayesha Saddiqah (RA). These were two people dearest to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and hence they are dearest to us as well because they both belonged to Family of Muhammad (SAW). The Battle of Camel happened due to a myriad of reasons and nobody can claim that he can judge the cause and the conclusion. Despite being on opposed sides, despite raising weapons against each other- these two still are the only few lucky ones who got the news of being Jannati while alive. This was an honor reserved for the very few of Prophet’s companions. The reason to bring up this incident is that Islam has seen turbulent times in the past, is seeing harsh times and only Allah (JS) knows when the seas will be calm for Muslims. But despite that the one thing that has always allowed Islam to flourish and prosper is that nowhere did Muslims give up the concept of Ikhwatul Islam, fair Justice and truth.

We are writing to you in a hope that at this critical juncture when we are facing enemies on all sides, you will be the guiding light for us. We are writing to you in a hope that you will take our hand and lead us to victory. We are writing with the tears, hopes and prayers of innocents butchered in the valley of Kashmir for you and me. We are writing to you in a hope that eventually all of us need to take a step backward to realize that we all stand for the freedom of Kashmir. We are writing to you in a hope that you being a direct victim of Indian atrocity know how it feels like to be an orphan and an oppressed.

Justice is being denied to us, jails are being filled with us, and even the water that we drink is soaked in the blood of our beloved Martyrs. The consistent and persistent conspiracy hatched by Indian agencies to dilute the demography of Kashmir Valley is not only alarming but it is a real threat to our survival. The Christian missionaries are luring our innocent children to abandon their faith for mere pennies and the foreign laborers are being settled in Kashmir without any hesitation. In this critical phase of our journey towards freedom, do we want to be remembered as “Once upon a time there were some Muslims living in Kashmir” or do we want to face the challenge head on. We don’t have the luxury of being complacent or lazy. We don’t have the time to go back in time and wish things were different. We don’t have the energy to start a new revolution. The last 20 years of Kashmir have been bloody, brutal and unforgiving, but we can’t get bogged down with fatigue and say we are tired. Surrendering or abandoning the struggle of freedom movement is not an option simply because our existence is attached to it.

Dear Brother, We come to the not so pleasant part of our letter to you. These questions might be uncomfortable and you are absolutely not obliged to respond. But it will go a long way in clarifying the doubts, the reservations and the misunderstandings. We also understand that we have a right to ask these questions because you are the face of the revolution and the face of our freedom struggle. Hence we need to know if we are following the right person or if it is just an illusion. There is no room for diplomacy or ‘back channel dialogue’ because all we need is for you to state your position on where you stand. The below questions are just the ones that need immediate attention and by no means is it a complete list of queries that we have.

1. By virtue of being Mirwaiz of Kashmir, how is it possible that you do not wish for an Islamic state in Kashmir. Being a well read person and an intellectual, you must know that secularism, and communism, capitalism, socialism, liberalism, fundamentalism and all other ‘isms’ are incompatible with Islam. Having said that minorities in Islam are treated with highest respect, honor and justice as can be seen from the pages of Islamic History. Prophet Muhammad (SAW)’ time, When Muslims ruled in Europe and when Muslims ruled in India – there was absolutely not a single incident of any genocide of minorities.
2. The leadership issue of Kashmir freedom struggle needs nobody to explain how messed up it is, to clean up this mess what Is stopping you from joining hands with Syed Ali Shah Geelani. All Syed Ali Shah Geelani is asking you that the alliance of pro-freedom parties can exist when all demand an Islamic state. Being an Islamic cleric, I don’t think you should have any hesitation of doing so.
3. You silence on the conversion issue in Kashmir is being seen as a tacit understanding and acceptance on your part. We want to know why you did not condemn or raise your voice against this menace.
4. You silence on Indian agencies conspiracy of settling down the foreigners from India in Kashmir also does not go very well. We want to know why you maintained silence on this sensitive issue.
5. You have had several dialogues with Indian government over several years. Are you ready to make the details of those meetings public? This is essential because you represent the sisters who were raped, the brothers who were killed and the mothers who are worn out trying to locate their sons. You are representing the pious blood of our martyrs and we need to know If that is no being sold in Khan Market, Delhi.
6. You know the condition of orphans in Kashmir. The heartbreaking condition of widows of the martyrs. The misery of those who are indefinitely suffering in Indian jails is also not hidden from any one. What are the steps taken by you as leader to ease their condition?
7. Recently you had lunch with one of the interlocutors from India “Radha Kumar”, also present was one of the most well known criminal and some PDP agents. Radha Kumar and her ilk are nothing but a diversion. They are back stabbers who enjoy tormenting the Kashmiri Muslims. There was a renegade gunman in that lunch, these are the same people who participate in the mass rapes of Kashmiri women, who enjoy spilling the blood of our brothers and who play with our honor. How can you justify sitting on the same table with them.
8. Please tell the oppressed people of Kashmir that they are in good hands, that we are not being led astray and that we are following Sirat-ul-Mustaqeem.

Instead of being five fingers of a hand, let us make it a fist. Instead of being vulnerable let us turn our vulnerability into our greatest strengths. Your answers to the above queries will undoubtedly go a long way in pacifying the people of Kashmir whom you claim to represent. On your shoulders is the biggest responsibility which comes once in a lifetime, are you strong enough to carry it.

Yours Sincerely,

Team Aalaw and Frontline | Kashmir

Mirwaiz lunches with Radha, PDP leaders

In an interesting political development Huriyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, on Sunday lunched with New Delhi’s Interlocutor Radha Kumar and several other important Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at a lakeside government property outside Srinagar.

Well-placed sources said that a Srinagar based doctor had organized an ‘informal lunch’, for a very select group of people that included Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, centre’s interlocutor Prof. Radha Kumar, PDP spokesperson Dr. Sameer Koul, Sandeep Chatto, Dilawar Mir, former Minister Usman Majeed and close Mirwaiz aide Shahid-ul-uslam.

Interestingly the only presence from the government’s side was one of the District Development Commissioner holding charge of a very sensitive district. Sources also said that not a single member from either the ruling National Conference or the alliance partner Congress was invited for the ‘select’ lunch.

“We can’t call it a private lunch. It was held at a government owned club and the invitees were very important personalities. If the idea was that of a hush hush affair, then the lakeside club would not have been a venue”, a top government official told Kashmir Monitor.

Sources added that Mirwaiz had a brief interaction with Radha Kumar, details of which could not be ascertained. The Mirwaiz, sources say, then left the venue earlier than others while as his colleague Shahid-ul-Islam was seen having a long chat with the centre’s interlocutor.

Although brief, but Mirwaiz’s meeting with the top PDP leadership has set the tongues wagging from Srinagar to New Delhi and according to highly placed sources both the National Conference as well as the Congress were trying very hard to find out what exactly transpired between the two opposite groups. However, so far nothing much has been learnt about the details of the meeting.

Sources also indicated that Radha Kumar was trying very hard to get some of the separatists on board for their approval for parts of the report that she has co-authored. Kumar has been supportive of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s demands for AFSPA removal and is now seen to be emerging as the key person for any revival of dialogue between the New Delhi and separatists.