Elections, exercise in futility for Kashmiris, says Mirwaiz
Srinagar: Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday said that any elections in the state are futile exercise for the people of Kashmir, saying that all the elections has lost all value for the people of Kashmir.
In a statement issued here, Mirwaiz reiterated that for past 70 years’ people of J&K have seen the hard and soft hot and cold carrot and stick of Govt. of India but despite all this the basic problem has neither faded away nor got resolved. It is as it was.
Speaking at Jamia Masjid after two weeks of continuous restrictions, Mirwaiz said that the basic issue of resolution of the Kashmir dispute, the internationally recognized and endorsed dispute with multiple UN resolutions on it, is today more alive, more urgent and more dangerous than ever.
“Each generation of Kashmiri’s since 1947 has persuaded for its resolution to put an end to the uncertainty and distress that arises for them because of it. But to no avail, it has lingered on and become chronic mostly because successive governments in India refuse to acknowledge or engage with this basic fact,” he said.
Mirwaiz said that instead they use diversions and brute force to repress people to deter them from seeking the resolution. “The consequence of which is a history of severe human right violations especially in the last thirty years,” he added.
Mirwaiz said that the fourth generation of Kashmiri’s born and raised under this severe rule whose symbols are omnipresent and all over acutely conscious of it, are so desperate to end it even at the cost of sacrificing their lives.
“Recreational facilities and cricket fields are no substitute for it nor is repression. Neither efforts at creating disillusionment about it. Seventy years of people’s relentless struggle has proved that,” he said.
Mirwaiz said that the only way out is accepting the basic problem and addressing it head on. “Right of self-determination is the most democratic and simple way to resolve it. Alternative method of dialogue among stakeholders is also available. Both are reasonable means of conflict resolution and of ensuring peace and prosperity for all in the region that can result as a consequence of it,” he said.
He said that people of Kashmir also want peace and prosperity as much as anyone else in the world but there can be no real peace without addressing truth and justice.
Referring to the ULB and Panchayat elections, Mirwaiz said that, for the people of Kashmir holding of elections whether Panchayat or parliament has lost all value.
“It is as exercise in futility for them, as the essence of this process lies first in the establishment of democratic principles and institutions,” he said.
“Neither are any democratic principles followed here nor have any democratic institutions been allowed to flourish, instead the reverse has taken place here by use of extreme arbitrary force and authoritarianism. Any electoral process in such a place becomes a mere eye wash and a means to propagate to outsiders that things are under control and getting “normal” and as endorsement of Government of India’s rule. So people will resist it and stay away from it while observing a complete shutdown in protest in accordance with the program already given by JRL,” he said.
Meanwhile, after Friday prayers AAC and Hurriyat activists staged a protest outside Jamia Masjid against the arrest spree of Hurriyat leaders, activists and youth across Kashmir while rejecting the elections.
KV News
