War of words b/w Mirwaiz party, militants hots up

Srinagar, Jan 25: The war of words between the 'Save Kashmir Movement' (SKM) and the Awami Action Committee (AAC), led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has intensified with the militant outfit warning that any voice raised against ''freedom fighters and the armed struggle'' would be ''muzzled with extreme force''.

Reacting to a statement by the AAC spokesman, the SKM said it was a reflection of his ''mental bankruptcy''.

SKM spokesman Kamran Aslam in a statement to the local media here warned that any voice raised against militants and ''freedom movement'' would be ''muzzled with extreme force''.

''Had the AAC spokesman objectively pondered over the recent happenings, he would have realised the fact that the people, through referendum (general strike) on January 17, had made abundantly clear the difference between gold and dross, real and fake.

''But, the fact remains that these elements under the influence of personality cult, blind faith and vested interests are not ready to accept the ground reality,'' Aslam said.

''We want to clarify that not only water but enough blood has flown down the river Jhelum as well. We will not allow anyone to make a sellout of this blood. There is no scope for repeating the 1975 Indira-Abdullah accord or the Jan Sangh-AAC alliance or the 1987 unity of double-Farooq. Nor will anyone be allowed to exploit the sentiments of people for their petty interests,'' he said.

UNI