Offering prayers is not a breach of peace, says Umar Farooq

Srinagar, May 21 (ANI): The chairman of Awami Action Committee, Mohammad Umar Farooq, on Monday hit out at the Omar Abdullah Government in Jammu and Kashmir, saying offering prayers is not a breach of peace.

"The government has said that they suspect breach of peace (in people offering prayers at the Jamia mosque). I want to ask that what sort of peace are they talking about? If we talk about peace in Kashmir, then we say that peace does not exist here but what we call in English is 'enforced calm' which is established by the use of power, violence and exploitation," he said.

Farooq said that peace could be established in the region only after the governments of both India and Pakistan take Kashmiris into confidence.

Farooq, who had earlier condemned the decision of the state government for not allowing the people to offer prayers on Friday at Jamia mosque and for putting him under house arrest, questioned the government for prohibiting the people to visit the graves of their family members.

"I want to ask them how they can suspect the breach of peace as we organise such programmes. I want to ask them that if people who are visiting the graves of their dear ones and remembering them, then how it could be a breach of peace," he said.

The separatist leader also mentioned that the police had conducted a raid at the main office of the Awami Action Committee in the morning and arrested its members.

Recently, the local police had prohibited the members of Awami Action Committee from organising free medical camps, which is conducted every year to mark the death anniversary of Mirwaiz Maulvi Farooq, who was assassinated by certain unknown assailants in the year 1990.

Commenting on the Kashmir issue, Farooq said that it was essential for both the governments to attach importance to the emotions and feelings of the people and pressed for the early resolution of the dispute.

"We understand that if India and Pakistan come closer, the hope of resolving the Kashmir issue at the earliest will increase. But I also want to make it clear that neither trade, nor culture, nor sports nor other things will help in the establishment of peace," said Farooq.

"Peace would be restored only when the governments of India and Pakistan term the Kashmir issue as the fundamental and core issue (it cannot be resolved) and resolve it by taking the Kashmiris into confidence. They are not giving importance to the feelings and emotions of Kashmiris," he added.

He also announced that the members of Awami Action Committee would hold a Langate Chalo movement on May 22. (ANI)