Page 10 - 31MAR2019E

Post Pulwama, BJP doubles

down on failed muscular

approach towards Kashmir

Among many tough measures to reinforce itself, New Delhi has embarked on an unprecedented
crackdown on the politico-religious group Jamaat-e-Islami and withdrawn security of the separatist
leaders in the state, writes riyaz wani

ar from seeking to review hostility wherein there is a threat to the the implementation of UN resolu-
its policy muscular towards personal safety of my client, it becomes tion or through dialogue amongst the
Kashmir following the Pul- unwise for my client to travel to Delhi,” three stake-holders: India, Pakistan
wama attack that killed over read the response of Mirwaiz’s counsel and people of Jammu and Kashmir,” the
F 40 CRPF personnel, New Delhi Aijaz Ahmed Dar to NIA. response says.
seems to have resolved to only rein- The response further read that On the other hand, Government has
force it. Ever since the Pulwama bomb- Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is the 13th arrested scores of Jamaat leaders and
ing, Government has embarked on Mirwaiz of Kashmir, “is committed to workers and lodged them in jails. The
an unprecedented crackdown on the the abiding tradition of upholding truth government has also sealed proper-
politico-religious group Jamaat-e-Isla- and justice to represent the aspirations ties of the organization worth crores
mi, withdrawn security of the separa- of the people of J&K”
tist leaders and downgraded those of “Mirwaiz’s stand is clear. He has al-
the political workers. And in the latest ways stated that the Kashmir issue is a
development the National Investiga- political and human issue which needs
tion Agency has called Hurriyat M a political resolution either through
Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and
Naseem Geelani, son of the top separa-
tist Syed Ali Shah Geelani to New Delhi Adding to the
for questioning. The NIA had raided
their houses a fortnight ago. deepening political
Calling Mirwaiz to New Delhi is vacuum in Kashmir
an unprecedented step. Until now, all
central governments have stopped is that the Election
short of jailing the Mirwaiz who is not Commission of India
only a top separatist leader but also a
religious leader who represents a cen- has decided not to
turies old institution of chief preacher hold Assembly polls
of Kashmir. So, the governments gener-
ally preferred to put him under house in J&K simultaneously
arrest. But not anymore. The BJP led
government at the centre has chosen with the Lok Sabha
to break this taboo. However, Mirwaiz polls. This has
has refused to present himself before
the NIA in New Delhi. His counsel has apparently extended
said he can’t do it because of the “hostile the ongoing central
security atmosphere in Delhi”.
“Under the prevailing conditions of rule in the state

Tehelka / 31 march 2019 10 www.Tehelka.com