Srinagar: Former Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq on September 27
backtracked on his statement that greater autonomy could provide a solution to the
Kashmir problem.
Addressing a Friday congregation at historic Jama Masjid in downtown area after
returning from the recent meeting of Organisation of Islamic Conference on the
sidelines of UN General Assembly, the Mirwaiz said neither autonomy is an issue for
us nor a solution to the problem.
The Mirwaiz, during an interview with a noted journalist Karan Thapar, had agreed
that autonomy was an alternative to azadi (independence).
This was not the first time that Hurriyat leaders had backtracked.
Recently, Farooq had again told a private television network that no one should
threaten people and those willing to vote should be allowed.
However, after serious opposition from within the amalgam, the Mirwaiz backtracked
the very next day.
It may be mentioned that the Mirwaiz even denied his interview given to US-
based 'Time' magazine in which he had accused militants of being thieves.
In September 27 address, the religious leader even attempted to debunk national
media saying that local scribes had been supporting them while some
agencies "attached" with the government were attributing wrong things to him.
During his address, he, however, condemned the recent attack on the temple in
Gujarat.
PTI
