The Separatist Movement Has Created an Adverse Impact on the Muharram Commemorations in Kashmir

 

By Shakeel Hasan Shamsi

(Tr. New Age Islam Edit Desk)

24 August 2021

There Was a Time When The Commemoration Of Muharram Was A Grand Success In The Valley Of Kashmir

Main Points:

1.    Separatist movement has had an adverse impact on the Muharram commemorations of Kashmir.

2.    Centre allowed the Muharram processions with a limited number due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

3.    Youth of Kashmir are very much enraged by a mullah sitting in Pakistan.

4.    He is obsessed only with the grief of Indian Muslims that eats him up.

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There was a time when the commemoration of Muharram [the ongoing Islamic month in which Imam Hussain A.S attained martyrdom] was a grand success in the valley of Kashmir. But ever since the pro-Pakistan separatist movement spearheaded its ugly head in Kashmir under the disguise of Islam, provocative speeches and sermons began in mosques, and sermons on the [Islamic doctrine] of martyrdom have intensified. It appeared as if the political gatherings had been held in the religious places, which replaced the protests, rallies and processions with the gun culture. Now all this has become commonplace.

This whole [separatist] movement has had an adverse impact on the Muharram commemorations of Kashmir. Just as the other processions in mosques and seminaries were badly affected by the separatists, similarly the [Shia] Imam Baras and Hussainiyas fell prey to the separatist designs. The Muharram chants of "Yaa Hussein" in these processions were replaced by the slogans of “Azaadi” (freedom from India). In place of mourning and commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, voices calling for accession to Pakistan began to be heard. The Ta’aziya processions, which used to be very peaceful in the valley, suddenly turned violent and mourners started to clash with the police.

After the commemorations of Muharram were completely hijacked by the separatists, the government banned the Ta’aziya processions in 1989. Congress was the then government at the centre and the government in Jammu and Kashmir was formed by the National Conference. It thus implies that the ban on Muharram processions in Kashmir was not imposed by any sectarian or communalist party government but rather by the parties that believed in secularism. Nevertheless, during the days of Muharram in Kashmir, people did not stop taking out processions and they were coming out every year in violation of the restrictions imposed on the processions. Oftentimes, they even violated the curfews, and the mourners staged processions even if they had to face Lathi charge from the police.

This year, the assembly in Jammu & Kashmir has been dissolved and the entire administration is under the control of the central government. Now the people of Kashmir, through their Ulema and clerics, have repeatedly appealed to the central government to allow them to take out processions on the ongoing occasion of Muharram. Although it was not expected from the BJP government, yet the Centre allowed the Muharram processions with a limited number due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This led to taking out of the processions in many parts of the valley. Obviously how would the separatists like this? Therefore, anti-India elements and Pakistan sympathisers started turning the Julus (processions) into anti-national demonstrations. As a result, they faced clashes with the police and army.

The most critical development is that the youth of Kashmir are very much enraged by a mullah sitting in Pakistan. If you listen to his speeches, you would get to know that he is not reciting a Muharram Majlis but is parroting an anti-India story written by the ISI.

The only job for which this Maulvi has been hired is to insult the Muslim scholars of India, instead of mentioning the battle of Karbala. You will never hear a word from him about the atrocities in Pakistan. Hundreds of youths were picked up by the Pak police recently across the border. Enforced disappearances continue unabated. None of them have been seen till date. People in Pakistan staged a sit-in protest but this Mullah sitting in Lahore did not come out of his cave. Now he is inciting the youth of Jammu & Kashmir to sit in Lahore. What a travesty of religious preaching! It should also be made clear that this Mullah is constantly spreading poisonous tentacles not just against the Indian Muslims but also against immigrant scholars of Pakistan. He advocates the imposition of Punjabi culture instead of Urdu on Pakistan and spews venom against India day in and day out. Obviously, this Maulvi is serving the ulterior motives of the Pakistani government and is on their payroll. He is tasked with misleading the Muslim youth of India.

There are millions of atrocities against the Muslims of Balochistan but this Maulvi does not open his mouth. He is obsessed only with the grief of Indian Muslims that eats him up. In any case, what we are saying is that Kashmiri separatists—no matter how much fuss they make falling prey to Pakistan—should at least forgive religious ceremonies like the Muharram and religious places such as Hussainiyya and Imam Bara.

Significantly enough, the videos that have come from Kashmir show only a few rioters and the rest of the participants are standing in their respective places, which also shows that Pakistan has hijacked the Muharram processions and has sent some agents to the field.

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Shakeel Hasan Shamsi is a former editor of Urdu Daily Inquilab. This article appeared first in Inqilab.

URL:    https://www.newageislam.com/radical-islamism-jihad/separatist-muharram-kashmir/d/125266

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