Kashmir’s senior religious leader, Mirwaiz Maulana Umar Farooq, rejected an invitation from former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah to join the Jantar Mantar protest. Mirwaiz stated that he would only participate if the protest also addressed the Kashmir issue and advocated for the release of detained separatist leaders and youth.
During his Friday sermon at the Jama Masjid, Mirwaiz disclosed that he had received the invitation from Farooq Abdullah the previous day. He highlighted the unilateral actions of the Indian government that stripped J&K of its statehood and constitutional rights, leaving the people politically disempowered and economically weakened.
Mirwaiz emphasized the importance of fighting for the restoration of people’s rights and criticized the National Conference for not fulfilling its mandate to reclaim the rights of J&K residents. He stressed that any protest should not solely focus on statehood restoration but also include demands for reinstating Articles 370 and 35A, along with releasing incarcerated leaders and youth.
