On Wangchuk and Iran, Omar, Mehbooba are on same page

SRINAGAR: J&K CM Omar Abdullah and former CM Mehbooba Mufti Saturday found rare common ground on the issue of release of environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk and the situation in Iran.

Omar said the war “imposed on the people of Iran” should end immediately. “We want this unjust war forced on the people of Iran to end,” he told reporters here on the sidelines of a function, adding that the US and Israel cannot decide who should lead Iran. “As I have said time and again, America and Israel don’t get to decide who the leadership of Iran is. They don’t get to decide who the supreme leader of Iran is. That is for the people and citizens of Iran to decide.”




About the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Omar said he was not only the leader of Iran but also a widely respected religious leader of Muslims. “So, this should not be seen merely as a war with Iran. It has far wider implications,” he said.

About Wangchuk, Omar said he should not have been arrested in the first place. “We want the promises made with J&K and Ladakh to be fulfilled,” he said.

The CM also called for the release of young prisoners in Kashmir facing minor charges, saying such steps are essential to restoring trust. The administration should begin by releasing those who were arrested in recent pro-Iran protests in Kashmir, he said.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti Saturday said her party has passed a resolution expressing solidarity with the people of Iran and hailed the people of J&K for holding peaceful protests in support of the country.

Addressing a presser, Mehbooba said, “We also salute the people of Iran for their resilience and fighting spirit.” She said people should pray for Iran’s victory. India should review its policy towards Iran, which has stood by India during difficult times, she said.

Welcoming the release of Wangchuk, she said there are hundreds of people in Kashmir who have been arrested and jailed for years under the UAPA and even trial has not even begun in many cases. “He should not have been arrested at all. He is a nationalist and it is strange he was booked under the National Security Act,” she said.

Mehbooba said Wangchuk has done significant work for environmental protection and has even praised the BJP in the past. She also demanded the release of those detained during the recent “peaceful pro-Iran protests” in Kashmir. She said it was not right to arrest mourners who were condemning the assassination of Ali Khamenei.
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