Top separatists, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Alishah Geelani and Yasin Malik, on Friday warned that the attempts to connect the Kashmiri struggle for “freedom” with international terror groups would not be allowed.
They issued the warning while addressing the congregation after Friday prayers at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid that was on last Friday desecrated by supporters of the ISIS who waved black flags of the international terror outfit and mounted on the pulpit of the mosque with their shoes.
The separatists had announced to observe “Youm-e-Taqadus” (Day of Reverence) at the mosque today and criticise attempts to change the course of their struggle.
While the Mirwaiz and Malik were present in the mosque, Geelani addressed the gathering over the telephone.
They said that the desecration attempts by some masked youths were an attempt to connect the Kashmiri struggle for freedom with international terror groups.
The Mirwaiz emphasised upon the tremendous “sacrifices” being offered by men, women and children especially “our” youth for the achievement of the fundamental right to self-determination.
“Any effort to weaken this movement by diverting its course and linking it to some global agenda is unacceptable and will not be allowed. The separatist leadership appealed the youth not to get swayed by it.
“Our doors are open to our youth to come forth and join in and put forward their suggestions on taking the ‘Kashmir Movement’ forward and strengthening it”, said Mirwaiz.
Geelani said that the desecration of the Jamia Masjid was an attempt to link the indigenous struggle of Kashmiris to global terror groups.
He said such attempts by some masked youths to connect the Kashmiri struggle for freedom with international terror groups would not be tolerated.