Mirwaiz allowed to deliver Friday sermon after two weeks; says frequent house arrest will not change facts
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq
, was allowed to deliver the Friday sermon at Srinagar's historic Jamia Masjid after two weeks, and he used the occasion to ask the J&K administration to desist from preventing people from exercising their fundamental rights with regard to religious practices.
In a statement issued after the prayers, Mirwaiz, who was placed under house arrest on the past two Fridays, said: 'Repeatedly preventing me from coming to the Jamia Masjid on Fridays is completely uncalled for. It is a direct interference in the religious rights of people, which alienates them further, serving no other purpose.'
Such restrictions 'don't change historical facts', he asserted.
Authorities had barred Mirwaiz Farooq from leading the Friday prayers earlier this month, allegedly to stop him from making any reference to the killing of 22 people during an uprising against Maharaja Hari Singh on July 13, 1931, in his sermon.
The date holds historical significance in Kashmir.
'I have always asked that people be allowed to freely practice their fundamental rights, which includes the right to offer prayers and listen to Friday sermons,' Mirwaiz said. 'I hope these arbitrary restraints are stopped, and I am allowed to visit Jamia Masjid without hindrance.'
In his sermon, he also focused on the situation in Palestine and expressed solidarity 'with the oppressed people of Gaza'.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched
Seeking Alpha
Read More
Undo
'We gather here in peace, but our hearts bleed for our brothers and sisters in Gaza, who are facing an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe and starvation. Innocent civilians, especially children, are being relentlessly bombarded even as they search for food and safety. Starvation is being used as a weapon of war,' he said.
Since his release in Sept 2023, after being under house arrest for four years following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Mirwaiz has frequently faced restrictions, with police often detaining him at home on Fridays without offering any explanation.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
6 minutes ago
- Hans India
Supreme Court to hear pleas seeking restoration of J&K's statehood today
New Delhi: The Supreme Court will on Thursday take up a set of applications seeking the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir within a fixed timeframe. According to the causelist published on the apex court's website, a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran will hear the matter on Thursday, a day ahead of Independence Day. Last week, CJI Gavai agreed to retain the petitions on the hearing board after they were mentioned by senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan. One of the applications, filed by Zahoor Ahmed Bhat and activist Khurshaid Ahmad Malik, argued that the prolonged delay in restoring statehood is "gravely affecting the rights of the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir and also violating the idea of federalism." The applicants contended that the absence of a time-bound framework for restoration amounts to a breach of federalism, which is part of the Constitution's Basic Structure. In its landmark verdict on Article 370, a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by then CJI D.Y. Chandrachud had left open the question of whether Parliament has the authority to extinguish statehood by converting a state into one or more Union Territories. The Bench relied on a statement by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assuring that statehood would be restored to Jammu and Kashmir. During the oral hearings, SG Mehta, the second-highest law officer of the Centre, had told the court that the Union Home Ministry could not provide an exact timeline, saying it would take "some time" to restore statehood. Nevertheless, the Constitution Bench -- which also included Justices S.K. Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, B.R. Gavai, and Surya Kant -- directed the Election Commission of India to hold Legislative Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir under Section 14 of the Reorganisation Act by September 30, 2024, and stated that "restoration of statehood shall take place at the earliest and as soon as possible." The verdict also upheld Ladakh's status as a Union Territory under Article 3(a) read with Explanation I of the Constitution, which allows the creation of a Union Territory by separating a territory from a state. In May 2024, the Supreme Court dismissed review petitions challenging this ruling, finding "no error apparent on the face of the record" and declining to list the matter for an open court hearing.
Time of India
12 minutes ago
- Time of India
House panel flags concerns over quality of data for assessing JJM's performance
. NEW DELHI: A parliamentary panel has flagged its concerns over the authenticity of data being fed into the Jal Jeevan Mission's (JJM's) Integrated Management Information System (IMIS), noting that the quality of uploaded information is essential to fill the visible gaps in the ambitious scheme of providing functional tap water connection to every rural household in the country. The panel -- standing committee on water resources headed by BJP Lok Sabha MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy -- in its report tabled in Parliament on Monday also noted the absence of annual assessment of the functionality of tap water connections in 2023. The annual assessment of functionality is vital to ensure long-term source and system sustainability and corrective measures by states/UTs based on its findings. 'Being aware of the fact that actual veracity of uploaded information is essential for realising the actual ground situation and filling the visible gaps, the Committee reiterate its recommendation that the department (of drinking water and sanitation) makes sincere efforts to ensure the authenticity of the data being fed on the IMIS,' said the report. While the panel observed that the department has cited a number of steps being taken by it for water quality monitoring and surveillance, it noted that the govt 'has not furnished specific reply' on ascertaining the veracity of the information uploaded by the states/UTs on JJM-IMIS. On the panel's observation over the absence of annual assessment, the govt, in its reply, told the committee that the department has received the final report of the functionality assessment survey. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: Unsold Sofas at Bargain Prices (Prices May Surprise You) Sofas | Search Ads Search Now Undo It said the department's approval of the report is in final stages and will be released and shared with states shortly for requisite course correction. Launched in Aug 2019, the JJM was meant to cover all 19.32 crore (approx) rural households in the country by 2024. However, its deadline has now been extended to 2028.
Time of India
22 minutes ago
- Time of India
We're living in volatile era, 'atmanirbharta' mindset needed to deal with global turbulence: EAM
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said the world is facing a "volatile and uncertain era", having experienced the successive impact of the Covid pandemic, multiple conflicts and "trade upheavals", and asserted that ' atmanirbharta ' (self reliance) is the mindset needed to deal with "global turbulence". In his address at a conclave here on Wednesday, Jaishankar also said that in an era of globalisation and urbanisation, "traditions are often lost with time". But, by nurturing them, "we have made Indian tourism even more attractive", he said. Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 4 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 3 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals By Vaibhav Sisinity View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 2 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass Batch-1 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Pointing to the theme of the event -- 'Invincible Spirit of India' -- the minister said, "We are a civilisational state, a state, a society that has withstood the tests of time, and nurtured its culture, traditions and heritage." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Undo "Our real strengths have been our people. Our people and their self-belief. We have overcome adversities and we have addressed multiple challenges in the journey towards progress and prosperity." The event was hosted by the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality. Live Events "We are definitely living in a volatile and uncertain era, having experienced the successive impact of the Covid pandemic, of multiple conflicts, many of which are still going on, and of trade upheavals," Jaishankar said without naming any country. His comments came in the backdrop of the US slapping an additional 25 per cent tariff on all Indian imports, on top of an existing 25 per cent duty, taking the total to 50 per cent effective August 27. The minister added that nations with robust domestic demand have fared better and will obviously continue to do so. "The value of stronger tourism in such a situation is hard to overstate. After all, it has so many dimensions, including infrastructure development, entrepreneurship, creativity, skills enhancement, or job generation," he said. Indeed, there are a few activities that do more to energise the economy and multiply employment, Jaishankar said. In his address, Jaishankar emphasised the diversity, richness and the wonderful heritage that "our civilisation has nurtured", and said today there is an "enormous effort" to present to the world what really India is. He also said that in recent years, India has made "sustained efforts" to make "our heritage and culture more visible to the world", citing the inscription of multiple Indian heritage sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List in the past several years. "We have so much to be proud of and so much to share with the world," he asserted. "Our approach has long been driven by Vasudhaiva Kutumbakum and Atithi Devo Bhava. While we will always benefit with such openness, it is essential, in times of unpredictability, to stand firmly on our own feet. "Atmanirbharta is, of course, the mindset to deal with global turbulence. But it is also the basis to strengthen our self-confidence, to increase our resilience, and to lay the foundation for Viksit Bharat," he added. In his address, Jaishankar also asserted that more than diplomacy, it is actually tourism that connects any nation to the world. "Your industry helps to prepare a global workforce at a time when international mobility is becoming more common... Every action in this sector helps enhance brand India," the minister said. He recalled that in 2023, during India's presidency of the G20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was very "determined" that every state of India must get a chance to showcase itself before the world. "As part of a strategy, G20 conferences were therefore held close to heritage sites or naturally beautiful landscapes, and delegates were afforded opportunities for maximum cultural immersion," he said, adding that every state rose to the occasion and put their "best foot forward". The impression the delegates took back with them "will stand us in very good stead" and it is for this reason "we say G20 connected India to the world, and equally the world to India", Jaishankar said.
