World | India
Activists arrested over protests against Mirwaiz
Leader urges government to address Kashmir issue
- IANS
- Published: 00:00 November 29, 2010
Kolkata: More than 20 activists of the Bharatiya Janata Party's youth wing were arrested Sunday for shouting slogans against Kashmiri separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for his alleged anti-India statements at a seminar here.
The Mirwaiz, addressing a seminar at the Academy of Fine Arts here, said that Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed land and the Indian government should realise the strong sentiments of ‘azadi' of the people of the Valley.
"You cannot move forward until and unless you address the core issue. The core issue is not development, the core issue is not economic packages. The core issue is the strong sentiments of freedom of [Jammu and] Kashmir, the strong sentiments of the people of [Jammu and] Kashmir who want azadi. We want a solution'," the Mirwaiz said.
When former army chief General (retired) Shankar Roy Choudhury, one of the speakers at the seminar, asked him if he considers Kashmir to be a part of India, the Mirwaiz promptly said: "No, Kashmir is a disputed land and we want a solution."
The Kashmir Valley has seen around 110 deaths, mostly in firing by security forces on street protesters, in four months since June 11.
"On one side they are saying that they want a dialogue and on the other hand they are arresting young boys of Kashmir, detaining young students. The government itself has said that infiltration has come down then why are there so many troops still present in the valley. Why are the black laws not yet withdrawn. Why is the government using force in the Valley," asked the Mirwaiz.
Choudhury was critical of the Mirwaiz and his azadi sentiments. He said that Pakistan is backing the separatist movement in Kashmir.
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