Srinagar, June 18 (KNB): The people of Kashmir in one voice expressed dismay over the recent statement of prominent political Muslim leader and MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi wherein he rejected the United Nations report on the situation of Kashmir.
Pertinently, in a maiden report on Kashmir, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on 14th June 2018 called for an international investigation into alleged abuses in Kashmir.
“The United Nations does not have any right to interfere in the internal matters of India and it should not interfere. The report hurts the sovereignty of the country and we stand with the Indian government in condemning and denouncing it,” said Owaisi while addressing an Eid congregation on Saturday.
The statement of MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi evoked widespread condemnation from several quarters, MLA Langate Shiekh Abdul Rashid while slamming Owaisi over his remarks stated, “A Muslim should always take side of truth,” adding, in the name of nationalism no one is allowed to rub salt on the wounds of people of Kashmir.
He said if Owaisi thinks that opposing the people of Kashmir will help Indian Muslims to become the Nationalists in the eyes of BJP and others, he is undoubtedly wrong. He urged upon Owaisi that if he can’t support people of Kashmir in their genuine movement he shouldn’t also do undue opposition.
“Asaduddin Owaisi’s rejection of the UN report on the human rights situation in Kashmir has rendered him dubious in the eyes of Kashmiris. Instead of asking for probes into massive human rights violations in Kashmir he has exonerated the Indian state from any wrong. He was earlier considered a sane voice that stood for the rights of minorities and depressed classes. But the rejection of the factual report has exposed him as any other Indian politician who brushes aside the Kashmir issue as being an internal matter. Kashmir is an international dispute with legal dimensions existing within the ambit of international law as well as Indian Constitution,” said Mushtaq ul Haq Sikandar, a prominent writer-activist while talking to Kashmir News Bureau (KNB), adding, Owaisi’s statement is biased and lacks a factual and honest acknowledgement of the human rights abuses that every Kashmiri faces day in and out.
Human Rights Defender Syed Mujtaba said that the report released by the UNOHCHR is a significant step towards recognition of the serious Human Rights violations committed against Kashmiris at the hands of State. This Report will help the victimized people of Kashmir to mobilize the policymakers of the member states of Human Rights Council to do something to stop Killings in Kashmir. Mujtaba said political figures including Muslim face leader in India Owaisi should welcome the UN report and commit to act on its findings and call for the immediate repeal of Armed Forces Special Power Act, which protects security personnel from prosecution.
A netizen namely Muntazir Ali while commenting over the Owaisi statement said, “Mr.Owaisi, your nation is hurting us. We can’t bite the bullet just for the sake of your nation. You may be used to occupying foreign territories, that doesn’t mean we should just compromise. We won’t, will never, at any cost. Here he loses his credibility for us.” (KNB)
