J&K poll verdict disapproval of unilateral changes of 2019, says Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq criticizes J&K election verdict, calls for release of political prisoners and repeal of draconian laws.

Hurriyat chairman and Valley’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday (October 11, 2024) described the recent verdict of the J&K elections as “strong disapproval of the drastic unilateral changes made in August 2019.” 

The Mirwaiz, who addressed the Friday congregation at the Jama Masjid in Srinagar, said, “People have sent a unanimous and clear message that in every manner available to them, they will resist attempts to subjugate and disempower them. This time, through a consolidated ballot, they registered their strong disapproval of the drastic unilateral changes made in August 2019, since when they have been systematically disempowered, deprived, and their voices stifled.”

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Without naming the National Conference (NC), the Mirwaiz said those voted to power must be “respectful to the voters’ message” and “fulfil the promise they made to restore the legal safeguards and the rights snatched from them in 2019”. 

“The ownership of our land and resources, the constitutional commitments reneged on, our very identity, and dignity were further undermined by the 2019 commandments,” the Mirwaiz said. 

He reiterated that the Hurriyat “will peacefully strive for those rights never given to people for almost the last eight decades”. “We are constantly struggling for them and are being sent to jails. However, we have been constantly appealing to the Government of India for engagement and the release of political prisoners which include political leaders, lawyers, human rights activists and youth,” the Mirwaiz said.

He urged the incoming government to take up the matter of prisoners with the Government of India and “help secure the release of all political prisoners, especially youth languishing in jails for years and decades”.