Srinagar: Senior Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has expressed skepticism about the efficacy of elections in addressing the protracted Kashmir dispute, highlighting the diminished powers of the local legislature under the current Indian administration.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Mirwaiz, in a media interview, critiqued the structural changes implemented by the Indian government since 2019, which centralized powers with the lieutenant governor, an appointee of the Indian government, rather than the elected legislative body. He discussed the severe limitations placed on his personal freedoms, including repeated instances of house arrest since August 2019, which were only briefly lifted following legal intervention in September 2023.
Mirwaiz articulated the broader implications of these changes, which included a sharp increase in coercion and surveillance across Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He detailed a series of repressive measures such as arrests under stringent laws, dismissals from government positions, property seizures, severe communication restrictions, and a clampdown on media and social media freedoms.
Addressing the role of the Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz stressed that despite severe operational challenges and crackdowns on its leaders and activists since 2017, the organization continues to resonate with the local populace, representing their aspirations and sentiments toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Furthermore, Mirwaiz emphasized the geopolitical dimensions of the Kashmir issue, noting the involvement of India, Pakistan, and more recently China, in the region’s dynamics. He advocated for meaningful dialogue among stakeholders as the most viable solution to the ongoing conflict, which he described not only as a political crisis but also as a significant humanitarian concern affecting countless lives across generations.
Mirwaiz reaffirmed his commitment to a peaceful dialogue, recalling past engagements with Indian leaders and ongoing efforts to initiate meaningful discussions to address and resolve the core issues at the heart of the Kashmir conflict.