Mirwaiz asks Mufti to quit on moral grounds

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq heading moderate Hurriyat has blamed Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for increased restrictions and curfews in the state, while also exhorting him to step down from power.

He alleged that the BJP-PDP coalition government is not allowing any voice of dissent in the state. He added that the increased arrest of protesting youths has provided a field day for the police, who are “forcing poor parents to cough up money for the release of their children”.

Mirwaiz appealed to Hurriyat and separatist leaders as well as the Kashmir Bar Association to raise their voice against what he called the coercion of the Mufti government. He alleged that even the peaceful programmes of the separatist leaders are not being allowed.

He said that the use of pepper gas and pellet guns have left many young boys blind, adding that CM Mufti has lost the moral authority to rule Kashmir.

Mirwaiz has invited separatist and religious leaders, trade union leaders, students, civil society groups and representatives of the Kashmir Bar Association on Wednesday to discuss the current situation and chalk out future protests against the government.