Srinagar, Jul 10 (KNO): Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday paid tributes to the July 13, 1931 martyrs, saying their sacrifice remains etched in the collective memory of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and urged that the proposed Jantar Mantar agitation should go beyond the demand for statehood to also seek the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, the rights of political prisoners and a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir conflict.
In a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a spokesperson said Mirwaiz said that this Jama Masjid bears witness to their shahadat when their funeral prayers, led by Muhajir-e-Millat Mirwaiz Moulana Muhammad Yusuf Shah and attended by tens of thousands of people, were offered here.
He said that since the time of Shaheed-e-Millat Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Farooq, there was a tradition to honour these martyrs by taking out a peaceful procession to the Martyrs’ Graveyard under his leadership, where homage would be paid to them and people would renew their commitment to peacefully struggle for the ideals for which they laid down their lives.
However, Mirwaiz said that, in recent years every attempt to honour the martyrs is thwarted, he is put under house arrest, and even the state holiday to commemorate their martyrdom stands revoked.
“But their supreme sacrifice is etched in our collective memory for all times, and the people of Jammu and Kashmir will always honour them as their great martyrs and champions of their rights,” he said.
The spokesperson said, Mirwaiz further said that if the authorities allow this year, on 13th July, as per tradition, after Zuhr prayers, they will collectively go to Mazar-e-Shuhada Naqshband Sahib to offer Fatiha and pay tributes to the martyrs, Inshallah.
Mirwaiz also shared that he has received an invitation from Dr. Farooq Sahib, as was made public in the press by them, for the agitation at Jantar Mantar.
He said that after the 2019 unilateral changes brought by the Government of India, the State of Jammu and Kashmir was downgraded to a Union Territory and its constitutional safeguards snatched from the people, leaving them vulnerable and disempowered.
As such, Mirwaiz said that any effort by any political alliance, organisation or individuals working for the restoration of the usurped rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir , if based on sincerity ,is the need of the hour.
He said that besides, it is the foremost responsibility of the NC government towards the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who gave it a mandate on the clear promise that, once elected, it would revive the pre-2019 status of J&K, including restoration of statehood and Article 370 and 35A.
“Mirwaiz said that the agitation cannot be limited to the restoration of statehood, but has to be for all the seized safeguards and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
He said, in fact, he said, it should include the rights of our political prisoners and youth languishing in jails for years without trial or continued incarceration despite getting bail, and for people’s longing for lasting peace and life with dignity by conflict resolution.—(KNO)