By Sofi Iqbal, Agence India Press
Srinagar: Authorities had removed all restrictions in Srinagar to allow people to join the Friday prayers, the day being the first Friday of the holy month of Ramadan which began here Thursday.
Thousands of people attended Friday prayers at historic Jamia Masjid of Srinagar today after six weeks of break due to nonstop curfew and restrictions in the city.
Thousands of people reached the grand mosque both individually and in processions. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also delivered the Friday sermon and addresses a huge gathering in mosque.
Pertinently, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has been under continuous house arrest, had called for a march to Jamia Masjid in Srinagar today and had announced that he would defy the restrictions and offer prayers at the Jamia Masjid.
‘Autonomy is no solution to the Kashmir problem as people here seek complete freedom,’ the Mirwaiz said while addressing a large Friday congregation at the historic Jamia Masjid in the Old City.
The Mirwaiz said Kashmir is not a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, but a trilateral one involving the two south Asian neighbours and the people here.
Commenting on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s call for establishing peace in the Valley so that the 63-year-old problem could be resolved, Mirwaiz Umer said: ‘We also believe in peaceful resolution of the Kashmir problem, but there can be no peace as long as innocent Kashmiris continue to be killed by the security forces here.’
The Mirwaiz sought the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), withdrawal of troops from populated areas as well as release of political detainees and youth.
He appealed to the Hurriayat (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani to ensure that no protest march or shutdown is called on Fridays so that people could offer prayers at mosques across the Valley during the holy month of Ramadan.
The Mirwaiz, however, added that his group would fully support the weekly resistance calendar issued by Geelani’s group as, according to him, ‘the Hurriyat leadership is united to carry forward the present separatist campaign’.
The Kashmir Valley has been on the boil for two months due to violent protests against civilians being killed in firing by security forces.