Srinagar, Aug. 21 -- Kashmir's chief cleric and Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday claimed that restrictions and attempts to silence the pulpit of the historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar seemed to be part of the state policy, asserting that the historic pulpit had always stood for people's rights, duties, peaceful coexistence and dialogue over confrontation.
Addressing the Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid Srinagar after nearly two weeks, Mirwaiz said he had been prevented from delivering the Friday sermon at the historic mosque and was also denied the opportunity to address the gathering at Naqshband Sahib shrine.
He said being able to return to the people and address them was an opportunity he counted as a blessing from Allah....