Mr. Abdullah’s statements also led to severe criticism by the opposition parties with some of them accusing the Chief Minister of ignoring the ground realities and making the Mirwaiz more susceptible to physical harm
Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s linking the enhanced security cover granted to Kashmir’s chief Muslim cleric and chairman of Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to a decline in separatist activities in Jammu and Kashmir has sparked a political row in the Union Territory.
In an interview with News18 India TV channel, Mr. Abdullah had asserted that there has been a decline in separatist activities in J&K post-abrogation of Article 370. He said it was unimaginable earlier for the Mirwaiz to be provided with CRPF cover.
While sharply reacting to the Chief Minister’s remarks, the Mirwaiz’s office- Mirwaiz Manzil- termed it “nonsensical” and said that Mr. Abdullah who is holding a responsible post is expected to think about a situation in a reasonable way. In a post on ‘X’, the Mirwaiz Manzil said, “The nonsensical comment of Mr Omar Abdullah who as someone holding a post of responsibility is assumed to talk sense, ascribing motives to the security provided to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, knowing fully well the circumstances, is highly regrettable and in very bad taste”.
It added, “Such irresponsible comments betray the commentators’ insecurities and further disillusionment among the already beleaguered and repressed people regarding him and his mindset.”
Mr. Abdullah’s statements also led to severe criticism by the opposition parties with some of them accusing the Chief Minister of ignoring the ground realities and making the Mirwaiz more susceptible to physical harm.
Former minister and J&K People’s Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone alleged that the Chief Minister was trying to act like a white-collar killer by making statements which greatly increase the threat perception to the Mirwaiz.
“Does it behove you to act like a white-collar killer and make statements which greatly increase the threat perception of a person?” he asked in a post on ‘X’, adding, “Loose talk. Cruel talk. Killer talk. What a shame??? And Wallah. I am not surprised.”
Mr. Lone said, “I may have millions of disagreements with Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Sahib. But that his father was martyred is a reality. My father was martyred too…CM Sahib, we are victims. We know what a violent death is. Our fathers were killed”.
PDP leader and lawmaker Waheed Ur Rehman Parra also took to the microblogging site to assert that if the Mirwaiz has been given security it is not for his safety but because his vulnerability has increased. He also said that singling out the Mirwaiz only puts him at greater risk.
Mr. Parra said that Kashmir is peaceful because of the enforcement of stringent laws and that it is due to the government’s iron-fist approach that there is no separatist activity underway. He said, “Dear Omar Abdullah Sahab, since you are now endorsing peace— If Kashmir appears peaceful today, it is due to UAPA, PSA, NIA, attachment of houses and assets, constant profiling, verification, the lodgement of prisoners outside under stringent laws, and the sacking of employees under 311. This is a complete U-turn from your election campaign and manifesto.”
Taking a dig at the Chief Minister, the PDP leader added, “Your endorsement now is nothing but a ratification of the iron-fist approach against Kashmiris. If there is no separatist activity today, it is due to tougher measures against separatist and the ban on Hurriyat and Jamaat. And if Mirwaiz Sahab has been given security, it is not for his safety but because his vulnerability has increased. Singling out Mirwaiz only puts him at greater risk, knowing well that his family has already paid a heavy price. The truth is, like hundreds of others, even graves, shrines, and mosques are guarded by JKP and CRPF. So why make an issue if Mirwaiz is?”
BJP MLA RS Pathania accused the Chief Minister of taking a contradictory stance on the situation in J&K post-August 5, 2019. He said that while Mr. Abdullah acknowledged the improved security atmosphere and the fight against terrorism, he simultaneously attempted to raise issues like statehood and what he termed as "dual control" in his interview.
Mr. Pathania was quoted by a local news agency KINS as saying, “On one hand, he (Mr. Abdullah) appreciates the steps taken after August 5, 2019, in curbing terrorism but, on the other, he tries to make a controversy out of non-issues like statehood and dual powers.”
