Islamabad , (Parliament Times ) : Senior Kashmiri Leader and Chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement Altaf Ahmed Bhat vehemently opposes India’s Republic Day celebrations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Senior Kashmiri leader Altaf Ahmed Bhat in a statement issued in Islamabad today has emphasized the outright rejection of India’s Republic Day festivities by the people of Jammu and Kashmir, citing India’s failure to comply with UN Security Council resolutions on the Kashmir dispute. In solidarity with his fellow Kashmiris, he underscored their resolute pursuit of freedom, a fundamental right acknowledged by the United Nations under the principle of self-determination.
Bhat condemned India for allegedly coercing participation in Republic Day celebrations through military and police force, accusing the country of manipulating the international community’s perception of the ground situation in the occupied territory.
He voiced concerns about the actions of the Indian government, labeling it a “racist regime” involved in daily killings, targeting pro-freedom parties, banning Islamic educational institutions, and confiscating ancestral properties of Kashmiris.
Expressing deep reservations about the dismissal of Muslim employees, persecution of youth and students, and the heavy military presence in the region, Bhat characterized India’s Republic Day as nothing more than a Black Day in Kashmir. He drew attention to the substantial military deployment, with over nine one million forces’ personnel stationed in the region for over seven decades, patrolling the disputed area continuously.
In light of intensified restrictions in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Bhat called for the observance of India’s Republic Day as a Black Day, echoing the sentiments of Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control. He condemned the reported harassment by Indian forces in the name of security and denounced the heavy deployment of troops, paramilitary, and Special Operation Group personnel in Srinagar and other towns to curb anti-India protest demonstrations.
He criticized the harsh measures taken, including security checkpoints, cordon and search operations, house raids, frisking, and random searches by Indian authorities. Bhat expressed solidarity with the Kashmiri youth, who were daily summoned to police stations and Tehsildar offices, highlighting the oppressive environment created to suppress anti-India and pro-freedom activities.
Altaf Ahmed Bhat urged the global community to recognize the plight of the Kashmiri people and called for a just resolution to the long-standing Kashmir dispute, emphasizing the need for international attention to address the human rights concerns and ensure a peaceful and equitable future for the region.
