Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar: Overwhelmed by emotions, senior separatist and religious leader, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said on Friday that the four years of detention under house arrest were the worst period of his life after the death of his father in 1990. Mirwaiz Umar delivered the Friday sermon at the historic Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta area of old Srinagar city today after he was set free from house arrest. Choked with emotion, he cried while ascending the pulpit at the Jamia Masjid. In his sermon, the Mirwaiz appealed for peace and appealed Kashmir Pandits to return back to the Valley. "I was allowed to deliver the sermon at the Jamia Masjid after 212 consecutive Fridays. "People are aware that after August 4, 2019, I was kept under house detention and I was not being allowed to move out of my home due to which I couldn’t perform my duties as Mirwaiz. " He said that after approaching the court, a few police officers visited him on Thursday and informed him that he is being released and can visit Jamia Masjid to offer Friday prayers. "I cannot utter my sentiments, but it is all because of the prayers of people that I am here again to deliver the sermon," he said, adding that it was quite difficult for him to stay away from the pulpit for four years. He said that after August 5, 2019, people have faced difficult times as J&K’s special identity was snatched and was bifurcated in two UTs. "J&K might be a territorial issue for many, but it is a humanitarian issue and must be resolved through dialogue. Despite advocating peace, it is unfortunate that I was branded as anti-national, anti-peace and separatist as well. "As the Mirwaiz I have the responsibility to raise the voice for the people. Since Hurriyat Conference continued to raise the voice, but the ...