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| Mirwaiz breaks silence on sectarian divide in Kashmir, accuses GoI of funding bureaucrats to create wedge between Muslims | | | Bashir Assad
Srinagar, Apr 27: The growing religious sectarian divide in Kashmir today came to the fore when Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq lashed out at New Delhi for funding a selective group of Kashmiri bureaucrats to create what he termed wedge between Muslims in Kashmir. It merits a mention here that a section of national and international media is publishing reports of GoI funding Kashmiri bureaucrats to promote Barelvi sect of Islam to act as a deterrent to the growing Wahabi Islam in the valley. Interestingly, Mirwaiz who is also the grand cleric of Kashmir is symbolising the traditional Sofi cult of Islam which is loosing its foothold in the valley as the two warring cults (Wahabis and Barelvis) are promoting their respective ideologies very vociferously and large number of educated youth are predisposing towards either group while as traditional Sofi cult is loosing its disciples at equally alarming pace. While realizing the upshot of growing popularity of two contending cults of Islam, Mirwaiz today said New Delhi was funding selective group of bureaucrats to create wedge between Muslims in Kashmir to weaken the ongoing struggle. Mirwaiz was apparently referring to the new reports that Government of India was funding Khawja Farooq Sha Renzoo who holds the portfolio of Director Information and Public Relation in the government of Jammu and Kashmir who has gone proactive since last one year or so in spreading rather promoting Barelvi cult of Islam in valley.
Addressing a Friday congregation at historic Jamia Masjid in old city here he said, "Efforts are being made to divide Muslims on sectarian lines but Kashmiris are mature enough to understand what is happening around them. They will give a befitting reply to all such elements and foil their nefarious designs."
Interestingly the Shrine-visiting Barelvis were constituting about 75% of J&K's Muslims,
however, the past 20 years have seen the more puritanical Wahabis like Ahle Hadith make rapid inroads in the state - a spread that is often ascribed to vast inflow of foreign funds to these organisations from Saudi Arabia.
Though Wahabis are resourceful and huge reading material on Wahabism is available here, the Barelvis, for quite some time, are very active in promoting their own version of Islam, in fact, the way they organizing functions on daily basis across the length and breadth of the valley has surprised many. What is even more interesting is to see senior government officials as prominent guests at these religious gatherings.
Almost in tandem, many religious shrines are being renovated across J&K to accommodate larger flocks. There's been a sudden inflow of funds which has raised eyebrows Now a leading national daily too in its editorial has written the other day that Government of India (GOI) is taking sides in favor of Barelvi sect in on-going Barelvi - Wahhabi strife in Kashmir. Media in general has been advising GOI to not work for Barelvi sect and against Wahhabi sect (which is being reportedly supported, including by funds, by Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries) as this sectarian policy may worsen the situation beyond control in J&K because this experiment has been tried before in Punjab and Sri Lanka.
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