Srinagar, February 14 (KNS): Mirwaiz Umar Farooq criticised the authorities for not allowing him to offer prayers in Jamia Masjid on Shab-e- Baraat and Friday which he says goes against the normalcy claims.
"It’s condemnable that again and again on Fridays I am disallowed from going to Jama Masjid. Yesterday on the auspicious occasion of Shab-e -Baraat not only was I put under house arrest but even Jama Masjid was forcibly locked down and people prevented from gathering. Today also I was not allowed to go to Jama Masjid. I have always as the Mirwaiz which entails religious, milli and political responsibilities tried to the best of my ability to deliver them, and advocated for peaceful means of resolution of the issue through talks, which inshallah I will continue to pursue," he said in a statement issued to KNS.
Closing down of Jama Masjid which holds a special significance in the lives of Muslims of the valley causes them great pain and hurts the sentiments of the entire population. To do so in the name of maintaining law and order is ridiculous, especially when tall claims of normalcy are made, he added.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
"As for me a huge cordon of security bandobast has been put around me and I am informed that there is a great threat to my life. My movement is subject to the approval of authorities. I want to ask the rulers that now that they have provided me with so much of protection why am I not allowed to go to Jama Masjid? Do people who have threat perception and are provided with security , not move around? Are they also put under house arrest? I do not know what to make of these strange contradictions," he further said.
"I once again ask the authorities to stop this infringement on my personal freedom and liberties and not prevent me from going to Jama Masjid on Fridays. It’s very painful for me and the thousands of people who come there to hear the sermon and for all Muslims of JK. I also ask them to desist from locking down Jama Masjid the religious and spiritual centre for the people of J&K," Mirwaiz also said in a statement. (KNS).