‘Young militants are symbols of resistance’

SRINAGAR: The Valley’s head cleric and moderate separatist Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has always favoured negotiations over guns as a means of solving the Kashmir imbroglio. He remained hopeful when other separatists frowned at the PDP-BJP coalition. A year later, the Mirwaiz says the situation has changed to hopelessness. Under house arrest following the killing of Burhan Wani, the Mirwaiz spoke to Toufiq

Rashid about the fall-out. Excerpts:

This is the first time you wanted to hold prayers for militants?

These are young and educated Kashmiri boys who have joined militancy. They are part of the struggle at the indigenous level. They are not the ones going anywhere outside for trainings nor is anyone anchoring them from behind. They are symbols of resistance.

You say there is no political space and that is why these boys are picking up guns?

Yes, that is the main reason and especially after 2010 when they quelled the street protests through force and intimidation by killing innocent people. Today, we see Burhan not as a hardcore militant but as a symbol against them, knowing that he cannot beat the military might of India.

Do you think Burhan living would not have been as inspiring to the youth?

I think, his death will definitely inspire many people to go that way. There is no denying that people feel a sense of desperation. People feel the government of India is not just ready to engage or even acknowledge the sentiments in Kashmir. The PDP-BJP coalition has added a huge dimension to the problem. People feel India is trying to culturally, religiously and politically undermine our authority.