ibn sultan
Srinagar: Speaking at the Friday congregation at Jama Masjid today Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Molvi Umar Farooq asked the authorities to ensure that the harassment of Kashmiri’s studying and working in parts of India, after the Delhi blast, is immediately stopped. He said that news of harassment keeps coming in from all over which is very disturbing.
Reports have come from Himachal and some other places where Kashmiris have been harassed and in housing colonies Kashmiris are being singled out and questioned simply because of their identity. Mirwaiz said that it is the responsibility of the authorities that targeting of people from Kashmir ,which has put their lives in danger are ensured safety and security.
Referring to the raids on Kashmir Times office in Jammu, Mirwaiz lamented that press freedom has become a target of authorities and every dissenting voice from that of the authorities is seen as anti-national and a threat. He added that a free and fair media is essential for democracy and silencing it weakens democratic values. Mirwaiz said that KT has a great legacy of Ved Bhasin ji which the current management is carrying forward and resorting to such tactics is extremely unfortunate and uncalled for.
Talking about the Nowgam blast in which more than 9 people lost their lives Mirwaiz said that it is an extremely painful incident that so many precious human lives were lost in this manner. This tragedy could have been averted if seized material had been handled and stored in a responsible manner. It is imperative that those responsible for this preventable loss of life be held to account and the investigation be completed and made public soon.
Mirwaiz also highlighted KPDCL’s proposal to impose a 20% surcharge on power tariffs during peak hours. Calling it a grave injustice to people, Mirwaiz said that people are already struggling to survive an economic crisis as businesses are in decline, increasing the power tariff that too before the onset of winters which are harsh in Kashmir is heartless of the Government. Mirwaiz said rather than easing people’s problems, Government is adding to their woes. He added that instead of fulfilling the commitment of providing 200 units of free electricity to the poor, new burdens are being placed on people. He urged the Govt to immediately withdraw this anti-people proposal.
