Government today allowed Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid Nowhatta in Srinagar after five weeks.
There were no curfew-like restrictions in any part of Old City today and the Jamia Masjid was also open for public. Thousands of people offered Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid and APHC (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq also addressed the people before the prayers.
Terming the repeated restrictions in the entire downtown and not allowing the Friday prayers at the historic Jama Masjid Srinagar as the expression of frustration and dictatorial attitude of the rulers, the Chairman APHC Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said they would be mistaken “if they think that we would be deterred and would give up our just struggle by using these means of suppression against us”.
He said the pulpit of Jama Masjid has always been representing the political and socio-religious sentiments and aspirations of the Kashmiris and it will continue, in spite of restrictions, till the Kashmir issue is resolved in accordance wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir.
He said Jammu Kashmir has practically been converted into a police state and the voice of people is being strangulated by the use of force and repression. Besides the youth are pushed to the wall and the genuine activities of political leadership are not allowed by their repeated house confinement or arrests, said Mirwaiz. He said, however, these tactics are not going to make us cow-down. (GNS)
