APHC rejects Union Minister’s claim over detentions in Kashmir

Srinagar CNS, Feb 4: All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) led Mirwaiz Umar Farooq-headed Hurriyat rejected the claims made by Union Minister for Home Affairs G. Kishan Reddy on the floor of the Parliament in answer to the query about the political detentions in Kashmir.

 “A police vehicle has been permanently stationed outside Mirwaiz’s residence since August 2019, which does not allow him to move out. If that is not house arrest, then what is?” Referring to the statement of Mr. Reddy in which he said that no political leader had been under house arrest in J&K after August 5, 2019, a spokesperson of the Hurriyat claimed.

The Hurriyat spokesman further added that Mirwaiz completed one-and-a-half years under house detention on February 5 and “is even denied to perform his religious rights being the head priest of J&K”.

“Mr. Farooq is not only a political leader of international repute, but also a Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir, the religious and spiritual leader of Kashmir. He is even disallowed from delivering the Friday sermon at the historic Jamia Masjid, a tradition being followed for centuries,” the spokesperson said.

The Hurriyat termed the statements made on detentions in Parliament “misleading”.  They added that the authorities should immediately end the house detention of the Mirwaiz and release unconditionally all those political prisoners, youth, civil society members, journalists, and the respectable members of the society who were arrested on the eve of August 5, 2019.

They also added that scores are lodged in J&K and other jails of India, including Tihar Jail, Kotbhalwal Jail, Jodhpur Jail, Agra Jail, Amphalla Jail and Haryana Jail. (CNS)

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