Mirwaiz Umer condemns efforts to trigger sectarian strife

Srinagar, April 27 (IANS) Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat group, Friday said his group would oppose and expose religious institutions being supported by the government to create sectarian strife among the Muslims in Kashmir.

Condemning the alleged machinations to trigger sectarian conflict, Mirwaiz Umer told a Friday prayer congregation here: 'We will oppose all efforts aimed at fanning division of the Kashmiri Muslims on sectarian lines. If need be, we will expose the elements and institutions patronised by the government for this purpose'.

Mirwaiz asked the government 'to rein in such elements who in the garb of developmental activities are actually involved in fanning the divide'.

'Elements inimical to our movement have put on Kashmir-friendly masks in order to divide us on sectarian lines to harm the ongoing struggle for which we have given huge sacrifices during the past two decades,' he said.

'The government has activated institutions and its paid agents to create conditions for a sectarian conflict in the Valley through the medium of construction of mosques, shrines and religious schools.

'The government has even employed a section of the paid clergy to divide the Muslims here and promote a particular school of thought,' he alleged

Recent media reports had said that some government agencies were allegedly funding the construction of the shrines and mosques in the Valley to trigger a sectarian conflict.

Early this month a Muslim preacher belonging to the Barelvi sect was shot at and injured in the Batmaloo area of the city by unknown assailants.