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As Mirwaiz addresses Friday sermons after 4 years, former CMs among J&K leaders welcome move

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The former chief ministers of erstwhile J&K state and other leaders from different political parties on Friday welcomed the administration’s move to allow Jamia Masjid’s head cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to deliver Friday sermons after the gap of four years.

The political leaders expressed their views on X (formerly Twitter).

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National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah hoped that the administration would allow Mirwaiz to move freely, interact with people and resume his social and religious responsibilities.

“I welcome the step taken by the administration in J&K to release Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from house arrest. I hope that they allow him to move freely, interact with people & resume his social/religious responsibilities. Today eyes in Kashmir will be on Mirwaiz as he delivers his first Friday sermon in Jamia Masjid after 2019,” Omar wrote on X.

Former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President, Mehbooba Mufti said that Mirwaiz will walk free after years of LG administration’s denial about his detention.

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“Finally Mirwaiz Umer Farooq will walk free after years of LGs admin’s denial about his detention. As a religious head he is held in high regard by muslims across J&K. Unfortunate that a tussle has already begun between BJPs various political outfits to claim credit for his release,” Mehbooba Mufti wrote on X.

Peoples Conference (PC) Chairman and former minister, Sajad Gani Lone welcomed Mirwaiz’s release and stated that he symbolises a tradition, which is primarily religious in nature but also has strong societal connotations.

“Welcome the release of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq sahib. It is a joyous day for all of us to hopefully see him leading the prayers. He symbolises a tradition which is primarily religious in nature but also strong societal connotations. This tradition has been routinely interrupted in the last three decades, by all governments. Hope this tradition proposers uninterrupted,” Sajad Lone wrote on X.

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Former minister and Apni Party President, Syed Altaf Bukhari thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for Mirwaiz’s release.

“Deeply gratified & delighted by the long-awaited release of Mirwaiz Sahib. This momentous event has indeed ushered in a collective sigh of relief among the masses, particularly his devoted followers. Thanks to @AmitShah @manojsinha_” Altaf Bukhari wrote on X.

CPI (M) and former legislator, Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami said releasing Mirwaiz from illegal confinement is a welcome move, saying that difference of opinion is an important ingredient of democracy, but it should not be used as an excuse to curtail the fundamental rights of people.

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“Releasing Mirwaiz Umar Farooq from illegal confinement is a welcome step. Mirwaiz is a well-respected & influential religious leader. Difference of opinion is an important ingredient of democracy. It should not be used as an excuse to curtail the fundamental rights of people. Hope the government respects different shades of opinions, including the media,” Tarigami wrote on X.

Waqf Board Chairperson and BJP leader, Dr Darakshan Andrabi termed the release of Mirwaiz as an appreciable decision by the administration.

Religious scholars belong to all & no group or political party has a copyright for any religious personality, she said.

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“Congratulations to respected Brother #MirwaizUmarFarooq Sahib. It is soothing to see you after a highly appreciable decision by the Administration. Religious scholars belong to all & no group or political party has a copyright for any religious personality. I hope, this time politico-theatrical statements will not shadow the happiness of the release of Mirwaiz. Wishing him great for future,” Dr Darakshan Andrabi wrote on X. KNO

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Mubashir Alam is Srinagar based journalist, currently Srinagar Bureau at News Agency Kashmir News Observer-KNO

Politics

Sachin pilot ‘secretly divorced’ with Sara Abdullah: Rajasthan polls nomination reveals

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Congress leader Sachin Pilot and Sara Abdullah are divorced declared. It was revealed in affidavit filed for Rajasthan Assembly Polls 2023, News 24 reported.

Also Read: 4 dead, 10 injured after vehicle falls into gorge in north Kashmir

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Congress leader Sachin Pilot declared himself as divorced while filing his nomination for Tonk constituency for the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly Polls 2023. Pilot’s divorce news broke out after the former Chief Minister of Rajasthan after he submitted affidavit.

In the form, Sachin Pilot wrote divorced in front of his wife’s name. However, he has also mentioned Sara Pilot’s name while also giving details of her assets.

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Fear factor, a reason behind delay in elections: Omar

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Citing ‘fear factor’ as the reason behind delay in assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference vice president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday sought answers from the Election Commission of India “for allegedly depriving people of democratic rights.”

Also Read: Harissa – a delicacy returns to Valley as autumn signals winter’s arrival

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While addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Omar blamed the Election Commission of India for “taking decisions in accordance to the BJP”.

“I have nothing personal with BJP. I have complaints with ECI stated it will hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir after considering all the factors. I want to know what factors they are looking at? There is only one factor that is fear factor,” he said.

Omar said that a “fear” is prevailing within BJP, especially after failing to gain a majority in the LAHDC-Kargil polls.

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“Earlier they (BJP) would hide behind Raj Bhavan now it is Election Commission. If there is anything else other than the fear factor, we want to hear. Is internal security not robust? You can’t deprive the people of their democratic rights of having an elected government in Jammu and Kashmir,” he asked.

Omar said: “They (government) are claiming that the situation has changed post-August 2019. They also release figures about a large number of tourists coming to Kashmir. The election commission earlier said that a vacuum needs to be filled. We want to know what the factors left to fill the vacuum are.”

Omar said they have no hopes of elections in Jammu and Kashmir especially after the results of LAHDC- Kargil polls.

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“If democratic rights are not restored then political parties will have no choice other than to come on to streets. The Supreme Court recently told the government to hold Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies elections. It seems they have now no courage left to hold these elections. If it was up to them, the BJP would even delayed parliament elections but they couldn’t do it because of the compulsion of forming government at the center,” he said.

Omar claimed the BJP’s defeat in the LAHDC- Kargil polls result of bifurcation of the erstwhile state.

“The results are proof that the bifurcation hit the people of Ladakh equally as it hit the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The results were less about development but more about the bifurcation of the erstwhile state. It is true that people of Ladakh distributed sweets earlier but now their social act visits are protesting,” he said, adding that “Now the BJP will cover defeat by claiming that Kargil is a Muslim majority district. Even Leh is also a Muslim majority district despite the fact a good population of Buddhists lives there. Our Buddhists candidate from Padam emerged victorious.”

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Regarding forming an alliance with Congress during elections, Omar said that India Alliance has not taken any decision of seat sharing yet.

“No talks about seat sharing yet by the India Alliance. We are ready for the discussions,” he said.

On the Palestine and Israel war, he termed it ‘unfortunate’ given heavy loss of lives.

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“It is unfortunate that deaths are happening from both sides. Violence whether it is in the Middle East or Jammu and Kashmir, innocent people suffer. We can hope and pray for normalcy,” he said. KNO

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Opposition parties to stage protest on October 10 against BJP-led govt

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National Conference president and member parliament Dr Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday said that opposition parties would hold a protest on October 10 against BJP-led government.

Talking to reporters after chairing a meeting of opposition parties in Jammu, Abdullah, who was flanked by PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, CPI (M) leader Muhammad Yosouf Tarigami and other leaders, announced that opposition parties would stage a peaceful protest against BJP-led government on October 10.

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“The constitution is suspended and the democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir are under attack,” he said.

He said that they have unanimously decided to stage a peaceful protest on October 10 and would seek necessary permission from divisional commissioner for the same.

Abdullah questioned New Delhi and LG-led administration over delay in holding elections in Jammu & Kashmir.

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“Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir keep chanting that everything is fine here( J&K), but the big question is that if everything is normal here and despite the delimitation and  finalization of voter list, why elections are  not being conducted?” he asked.

Also Read: Power crisis deepens in J&K; Govt says ‘finding ways’

He further said that government has promised to hold Urban Local Bodies and Panchyat elections but changed its decision overnight to make people more confused.

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Those who attended the meeting included PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, her party’s general secretary Amreek Singh Reen, Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Vikar Rasool Wani, Congress working president Raman Bhalla, CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami, Dogra Sardar Sabha chief Gulchain Singh Charak , Jammu and Kashmir Shiv Sena (UBT) president Manish Sahni, Awami National Conference senior vice -president Muzaffar Shah, National Conference provincial president, Jammu, Rattan Lal Gupta, party MP Hasnain Masoodi, Mission Statehood president Sunil Dimple and former MP Sheikh Abdul Rehman.

Representatives of various other parties, including the CPI, Akali Dal (Amritsar) and the Internationalist Democratic Party also attended the meeting. KNO

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