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| In Srinagar, admin facilitates arrangements for anti-India rallies! | | Ahead of Rajnath's visit, admin busy pleasing separatists | | Abdul Majid
Early Times Report
Srinagar, May 19: Civil administration in Srinagar is seemingly busy facilitating arrangements for the smooth conduct of ongoing anti-India functions being hosted by Hurriyat Conference (M) as a part of its ongoing "Hafta Shahadat (Martyrs' Week)" commemorations.
Since last week when the Hurriyat kick-started the annual itinerary of anti-India programs, the administration has been taking extra care of civic facilities and traffic regulation at these venues, mostly in the downtown.
At Jamia Masjid Nowhata, the epicenter of anti-India activities, the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has launched sanitation operations. Ahead of the commencement of the weeklong event, senior SMC officials visited the locality to oversee sanitation drives.
"Normally, limestone is laid only once a week on Fridays, but during the Hafta Shahadat, limestone lines are being laid everyday while sweepers have been dedicated for special sanitation drives to keep the area extra clean," a Nowhatta resident said.
Similar arrangements were visible in Rainawari where Mirwaiz addressed rallies on Tuesday. "The streets were kept neat and clean by SMC employees while as limestone was properly laid to guide people to the venue," a local told Early Times.
Incidentally, the SMC falls under the jurisdiction of Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh who is also Minster for Housing. Insiders at SMC said facilitating arrangements for the "Martyrs Week" was nothing new. They said National Conference introduced this "custom" when it assumed power in 1996. "But when subsequently PDP-Congress took over in 2002 it couldn't bring much of change as within two years Srinagar Mayor was from NC who dictated terms to please separatists, till finally when NC assumed power in 2008," an SMC official said, asking not be named.
Officials said the previous Omar Abdullah regime, to remain in the good books of separatists, would even ensure availability of potable water tankers to quench thirst of revelers attending the separatist rallies held annually in the month of May. "The PHE would even issue press statement in this regard," said an official of Public Health Engineering department.
Nowadays while separatists and mainstream leaders are often seen together making merry or mourning as reported by Early Times last week, some in the government seem to be having a soft corner for those resorting to anti-national activities.
SMC officials, however, tried to downplay the matter. They said taking extra-care of civic amenities during "Hafata Shahadat" has been a convention. "We take this week as a humanitarian event and thus we take some extra care," he said.
But observers said this all is being allowed at the cost of national integration. On Sunday, Mirwaiz while addressing a seminar held in connection with the "Hafta Shahadat" took a dig at the central government.
Mirwaiz said New Delhi was trying hard to change the J&K's Muslim identity by maintaining status-quo on Kashmir and dividing people of the state on religious and ethnic lines. "This is a clever policy by India to divert attention of people of Kashmir from the core issue. But Delhi should read the writing on the wall that Kashmir is a dispute which needs to be resolved," Mirwaiz said.
While this and other hate speeches were on, the administration was even ensuring smooth flow of traffic to the venues by deploying special police escorts enroute.
This is the state-of-affairs in Kashmir when Home Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to visit the state in the coming days.
Meanwhile, a handout of the Hurriyat said, "Continuing with Hafta Shahadat Programme on the fourth consecutive day to pay homage to Shaheed-e-Millat Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq, Shaheed-e-Hurriyat, Abdul Gani Lone, Hawal martyrs and lakhs of Kashmiris martyrs, Awami Action Committee (AAC) on Tuesday organized a blood donation and free medical camp in the patios of Jamia Masjid. AAC head and APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq inaugurated the event by donating blood. Hurriyat leaders Shahidul Islam and Hilal Ahmad War also donated blood."
"In connection with the Hafta Shahadat week, various symposiums seminars and rallies are being organized across Kashmir to commemorate the Kashmiri martyrs…While paying rich to the martyrs of 1931 who laid the foundation of freedom struggle in Jammu and Kashmir, Mirwaiz termed their sacrifices as an important milestone in the history of Kashmir which reflects their commitment and resolve towards freedom struggle," the handout said. |
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