J&K authorities on Thursday placed several leaders under house arrest in Kashmir, disallowing them from visiting the residence of Prof Abdul Gani Bhat in Sopore after the former Hurriyat chairman passed away the previous evening.
Family members said the authorities placed restrictions in Bhat’s native village of Botingoo in Sopore. “We buried him around 11:30 pm and only a couple of thousand people from the village could participate as they placed restrictions around the village and allowed no one to enter the village,” Bhat’s son Jehangir Bhat told ET.
As Bhat was a prominent Hurriyat leader, the family had planned the funeral service for around 10 am on Thursday.
Bhat, 89 , died at his Sopore residence on Wednesday evening after age-related illnesses.
Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said she was put under house arrest to prevent her from visiting Sopore to offer condolences on the demise of Bhat. “The decision to place the political leadership under house arrest today, simply to stop us from visiting Sopore to offer condolences... lays bare the harsh and undemocratic reality in Jammu and Kashmir,” she said in a post on X.
Referring to the recent controversy at the Hazratbal shrine, where locals damaged the Ashoka Emblem inscribed on a renovation plaque, she said the public anger was a “loud, unmistakable message”. Police had filed a criminal case against unidentified people following the incident.
“What unfolded at Hazratbal Dargah the eruption of spontaneous, raw public anger was not just an isolated incident. It was a loud, unmistakable message from a people pushed to the edge. The BJP, however, remains wilfully blind to this truth refusing to learn anything from the deep anguish and suppressed emotions that have been building for years now,” the PDP leader said.
Mufti said it was becoming “increasingly clear” that the BJP had “no interest” in peace or healing in Kashmir. “Instead, they seem determined to keep the region in a constant state of turmoil weaponising pain and unrest for political mileage across the rest of the country. This cynical approach is not just irresponsible; it is dangerous and utterly reprehensible,” she said.
Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also condemned the denial of the people’s right to join Bhat's final journey.
"Bhat’s legacy will endure as that of a scholar-statesman who combined intellect with humility, courage with patience, and conviction with compassion... it is extremely unfortunate that when Prof. Bhat’s final journey came, he, his colleagues, and the thousands who wished to attend his funeral, offer condolences to the bereaved family, and share in the collective grief were denied this basic right,” said Mirwaiz. “Being locked inside their homes, prevented from paying their last respects, was a cruelty that has only deepened the sorrow of his passing."
Peoples’ Conference chief Sajad Lone also said that he was not allowed to travel to Sopore.
“I have been put under house arrest in order to prevent me from visiting Botingoo, the ancestral village of Professor Ghani sahib. I fail to understand what is the need for this. Professor sahib was a pacifist and literally long retired. A final good bye is something which we all deserved,” said Lone.
Meanwhile J&K Chief minister Omar Abdullah obliquely criticized the Lieutenant Governor led administration for disallowing the leaders to participate in funeral of Bhat and express condolence with his family members.
"On one hand they say everything is normal here and naya Jammu-Kashmir has emerged now, but on the other hand we don't trust our own people," said Abdullah adding, "What would happen if Mehbooba Mufti or Sajad Lone would go there and offer condolences. What hell would break lose there? This is not good for J&K."
Family members said the authorities placed restrictions in Bhat’s native village of Botingoo in Sopore. “We buried him around 11:30 pm and only a couple of thousand people from the village could participate as they placed restrictions around the village and allowed no one to enter the village,” Bhat’s son Jehangir Bhat told ET.
As Bhat was a prominent Hurriyat leader, the family had planned the funeral service for around 10 am on Thursday.
Bhat, 89 , died at his Sopore residence on Wednesday evening after age-related illnesses.
Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir and People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said she was put under house arrest to prevent her from visiting Sopore to offer condolences on the demise of Bhat. “The decision to place the political leadership under house arrest today, simply to stop us from visiting Sopore to offer condolences... lays bare the harsh and undemocratic reality in Jammu and Kashmir,” she said in a post on X.
Referring to the recent controversy at the Hazratbal shrine, where locals damaged the Ashoka Emblem inscribed on a renovation plaque, she said the public anger was a “loud, unmistakable message”. Police had filed a criminal case against unidentified people following the incident.
“What unfolded at Hazratbal Dargah the eruption of spontaneous, raw public anger was not just an isolated incident. It was a loud, unmistakable message from a people pushed to the edge. The BJP, however, remains wilfully blind to this truth refusing to learn anything from the deep anguish and suppressed emotions that have been building for years now,” the PDP leader said.
Mufti said it was becoming “increasingly clear” that the BJP had “no interest” in peace or healing in Kashmir. “Instead, they seem determined to keep the region in a constant state of turmoil weaponising pain and unrest for political mileage across the rest of the country. This cynical approach is not just irresponsible; it is dangerous and utterly reprehensible,” she said.
Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also condemned the denial of the people’s right to join Bhat's final journey.
"Bhat’s legacy will endure as that of a scholar-statesman who combined intellect with humility, courage with patience, and conviction with compassion... it is extremely unfortunate that when Prof. Bhat’s final journey came, he, his colleagues, and the thousands who wished to attend his funeral, offer condolences to the bereaved family, and share in the collective grief were denied this basic right,” said Mirwaiz. “Being locked inside their homes, prevented from paying their last respects, was a cruelty that has only deepened the sorrow of his passing."
Peoples’ Conference chief Sajad Lone also said that he was not allowed to travel to Sopore.
“I have been put under house arrest in order to prevent me from visiting Botingoo, the ancestral village of Professor Ghani sahib. I fail to understand what is the need for this. Professor sahib was a pacifist and literally long retired. A final good bye is something which we all deserved,” said Lone.
Meanwhile J&K Chief minister Omar Abdullah obliquely criticized the Lieutenant Governor led administration for disallowing the leaders to participate in funeral of Bhat and express condolence with his family members.
"On one hand they say everything is normal here and naya Jammu-Kashmir has emerged now, but on the other hand we don't trust our own people," said Abdullah adding, "What would happen if Mehbooba Mufti or Sajad Lone would go there and offer condolences. What hell would break lose there? This is not good for J&K."
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