Security cover of five resistance leaders snatched

None of the anti-India leaders whose personal security was withdrawn by the government on Sunday, had ever asked for security, they and their spokespersons said.
All these five leaders — Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Abdul Ghani Bhat, Bilal Lone, Hashim Qureshi and Shabir Ahmad Shah — said that the security was provided by the state government without consulting them.
“It is always the decision of the government to keep or remove personnel but has never been an issue for us,” read the statement issued by the Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat (M).

“With or without these police personnel at Hurriyat leaders’ residences, all remains the same. Whenever the issue has been made centre stage APHC Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has repeatedly said from the pulpit of Jamia Masjid that the Government can withdraw it. Hurriyat leaders had never asked for it. Infact, it was the government that insisted on keeping the personnel based on what they said was their assessment of threat perception,” the statement added.

Professor Abdul Gani Bhat told Kashmir Post that the security withdrawal was a good decision taken by the government, because it does not befit them and they should walk about like common people.
“I had never asked for it, so it does not matter to me. My only objective has been to pursue the Kashmir cause, and solve it through dialogue to end the hostilities between the India and Pakistan,” he said.
The spokesperson of the Shabir Shah led JKDFP in a statement said that its leader has never been provided any kind of government security, so the announcement of withdrawing it is nothing but a big lie.
“Shabir Shah is a leader of principles who stands for the right to self determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and has not even applied for the Indian passport,” the spokesperson said.
Hashim Qurashi, who does not call himself a Hurriyat leader, told Kashmir Post that he had not applied to the government for any security.

“I am not a Hurriyat leader. I left it in 1998. I am a freedom fighter, and believe Pakistan, and Indiaa, both have occupied our land. I am out on bail. The security was provided by the government itself after I received threats. It was their duty,” he said.
Qureshi told Kashmir Postthat the withdrawal has made him vulnerable now to threats that once were enough for the state to provide him the security.

“The attack on CRPF was done by the Jaish, whose headquarters are in Pakistan. If Narendea Modi has temerity, he should send his forces to Pakistan, and get the head of the outfit from there, instead of making us vulnerable,” he said.