'Don't divide Kashmiri Muslims on sectarian lines'

Moderate All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq has condemned 'the machinations to start a sectarian conflict among the Kashmiri Muslims'.

Addressing the congregation at the historic Jamia Masjid in old city Srinagar on Friday afternoon, the Mirwaiz said: "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 the purpose."

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

"Elements inimical to the our moment 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 in past two decades," the APHC chairman said.

"The government has paid agents seeking 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 added.

Asking the government 'to keep itself from meddling' in the task of construction of the shrines, the Mirwaiz instead advised 'the government to concentrate on its mandate of development in the state'.

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

Earlier this month a Muslim preacher was shot at and injured in the Batmallo locality of the city belonging to the particular school of thought.