ELECTIONS CANNOT RESOLVE THE KASHMIR ISSUE: HURRIYAT CHAIRMAN MIRWAIZ

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq is critical of the changes brought in by the Central government in Jammu and Kashmir, and calls for a 'genuine' resolution to the region's political issues.

- SAURABH SHARMA

Kashmir's chief cleric and Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, since the abrogation of Article 370 has been facing significant restrictions on his movements and has delivered only a few Friday sermons at the historic Jama Masjid, Srinagar, in the last five years.

In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Guardian, the Chief of the All Party Hurriyat Conference (moderate faction) which was considered a dominant political force till 2019, said, "I want to play a role in the resolution of this political and humanitarian issue. I don't think any civic election can serve as a means to resolve the larger political issue." He further added that the changes brought in by the central government post 2019 has taken all the powers from the elected legislature, and given it to the lieutenant governor, who is an appointee of the central government.

EXCERPTS FROM THE INTERVIEW: Q: Since August 2019, you haven't been allowed to step outside your home. In recent months, you have delivered a few sermons on Fridays and made some public appearances. Are you a free man now? A: I have faced significant restrictions since August 2019, including house arrest and limitations on my movements. I was partially released from house arrest in September 2023 after leWAVERING CONFIDENCE gal intervention, yet my freedom remains constrained. I have to seek permission for any movement outside my residence, and since the announcement of elections, I have been placed under house arrest again. Therefore, I am not a fully free man, as my activities are monitored and restricted by the authorities and I can be detained anytime at home by them.