First time in Valley’s history,govt doesn’t allow Mirwaiz to lead Eid prayers

“Not allowing me to lead the prayers is an extreme step by the government. This is a blatant intervention in our religious affairs,” Mirwaiz who had earlier asked the chief minister Omar Abdullah to step down told The Indian Express. He said the present state government has achieved the “dubious distinction” of being the first to deny Mirwaiz the right to perform his religious obligation. “Government has to bear in mind that this strategy will not cow us down. We will continue our struggle for a lasting solution to Kashmir”.

Though primarily concerned with propagating and preaching the religion,the institution of Mirwaiz has transformed over the past century. Mirwaiz has now acquired a pronounced political role. It was Molvi Yusuf Shah,the grand uncle of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq,who in the early twentieth century was the first to involve himself in the political struggle against the autoctratic Dogra rule in the state. His successor Molvi Farooq,also the father of Mirwaiz,was an influential political leader who floated a party called Awami Action Committee which fought elections and through the eighties emerged as a vaunted opposition to the National Conference. However,after his assassination in 1990,  Umar Farooq became the new Mirwaiz Kashmir and subsequently the first chairman of the separatist conglomerate Hurriyat Conference. He is now the most influential separatist leader in Kashmir,together with Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani.  

Meanwhile,Muttahida Majlis Ulema,a body of religious scholars has condemned government decision not to allow Mirwaiz to lead prayers. “ Government should seriously rethink its strategy. It is negative and anti-Islamic,” a statement issued by the body said.