1. Home
2. Front Page

Restrictions, arrests evoke severe criticism

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 7/13/2012 11:41:04 PM

SRINAGAR, July 13: The government move to impose undeclared curfew in some parts of old city and arrests/ house arrest of separatist leaders has come under severe criticism.
Talking to media persons at Martyrs Graveyard PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed criticised the government for imposing unnecessary restrictions on the martyrs’ day. “Even on a solemn occasion the government does not know of anything other than curfew,” he said.
Mufti said imposition of restrictions on an occasion like this is against the very spirit of the day. “The martyrs had laid down their lives for us to enjoy our liberties and rights but the present government is violating the sanctity of the occasion,” he said.
PDP patron added that it is not always necessary to run government through force. “During the PDP led coalition we never had to impose restrictions and the day used to be observed with full participation by the local population,” he recalled and said no restrictions were ever imposed.
Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, said, “It is shameful. Under heavy security cover, ministers pay visit to the Martyrs’ Graveyard and use it to exploit sentiments of people. On the other hand the real heirs of martyrs’ are kept in custody.”
He said such steps reflect “the government’s fascist approach.”
Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman Hurriyat (G), also criticised the government move. Talking to media persons prior to his arrest , he said the government intends to crush the movement with its military might. The suppressive measures expose the government, he added.
Geelani’s party Tehreek-e-Hurriyat has also strongly condemned his arrest. “Geelani Sahab along with his associates, Ayaz Akbar and Muhammad Rafiq Ganai, was arrested today at Airport Road Hyderpora by the police immediately after he left his house, where he was placed under house arrest,” its spokesman said.
“State government imposed undeclared curfew and confined people to their homes. All Hurriyat leaders were placed under house arrest. The government did not even allow people to offer Friday prayers. This government is afraid of assembly of people. They are frightened,” Hurriyat Conference (M) spokesman said.
Jammu & Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen Chief Patron Maulana Abbas Ansari and its' president Masroor Ansari were also placed under house arrest. “We were not allowed to attend the Friday prayers,” they said.
Independent MLA Engineer Rashid also criticized the imposition of undeclared curfew and arrest of separatist leaders. He said chief minister Omar Abdullah is paying tributes to Martyers on one side and also hailing Dogra rulers, who killed them, in Jammu.