Srinagar: In his first public address since the ban on the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee (AAC), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq termed the move as “harsh and uncalled for,” demanding its immediate revocation.
Speaking at Srinagar’s historic Jama Masjid during Friday prayers, he asserted that the AAC has always stood for peace, dialogue, and social reform.Expressing dismay over the government’s decision to declare AAC an “illegal association,” Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the allegations were not only “strange but also ironic.” He emphasized that despite adversities, the AAC has upheld nonviolence and patience.
“Those who have consistently advocated peace are now accused of disturbing law and order. These allegations contradict the AAC’s history,” he remarked.Tracing the organisation’s roots, the Mirwaiz spoke about the contributions of his father, Shaheed-e-Millat Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq, who founded the AAC in 1964 after the Moi-e-Muqaddas agitation.
He recalled how his father dedicated his life to religious, social, and educational reforms, particularly advocating for women’s rights and empowerment.Referring to his father’s efforts for reconciliation, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq recounted how in 1983, as AAC president, his father worked to unite political rivals and opposed violence in Kashmir.
He also reminded the audience of his father’s appeals to New Delhi to engage with armed youth and his bold condemnation of human rights violations. “How can an organisation founded on such principles be seen as a threat?” he questioned.Reflecting on his own journey after his father’s assassination, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq recalled how, despite deep personal loss, he urged people to remain peaceful.
“As a 16-year-old, standing atop my father’s funeral truck, I pleaded for restraint and unity. Had the AAC not exercised patience, a civil bloodbath could have erupted.
How can such an organization be labeled a threat to peace?” he asked, reiterating his call for the immediate lifting of the AAC ban. [KNT]
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