Islamabad, (Parliament Times) : Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement (JKSM) Altaf Ahmed Bhat addressed the recent actions taken by the Modi-led Indian government in further stifling the voice of Kashmiris yearning for their fundamental rights.
In a statement issued here in Islamabad today, Chairman Bhat lamented that the continued suppression of Kashmiris’ just struggle for freedom by banning pro-freedom parties in occupied Jammu and Kashmir is a blatant violation of human rights and democratic principles. The recent outlawing of two more organizations, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Freedom League and Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League, along with the extension of the ban on Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front for another five years, is an egregious assault on the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
He further added that It is evident that the Indian government, under the guise of national security, is resorting to draconian measures to silence dissent and crush legitimate demands for self-determination. The banning of these organizations, which have been at the forefront of advocating for the rights of Kashmiris, is a clear attempt to suppress the will of the people.
The statement made by the Indian Home Minister, justifying these actions by accusing these organizations of engaging in “pro-freedom activities” is a gross misrepresentation of the ground realities. The right to freedom of expression and association is enshrined in international law, and any attempts to curtail these rights must be vehemently opposed.
Despite the relentless campaign of repression unleashed by the Indian government, it is imperative to emphasize that the will of the Kashmiri people for freedom and self-determination cannot be suppressed. The Indian government’s strategy of killing, torturing, and banning political and pro-freedom parties has failed to silence the voice of freedom in Kashmir. Bhat added.
Chairman JKSM Altaf Ahmed Bhat called upon the international community and relevant human rights organizations to condemn these blatant violations of human rights in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. It is high time for the international community to exert pressure on India to halt its human rights violations, release all Hurriyat leaders, demilitarize the region, and initiate the process of plebiscite as per the UN resolutions.
