SRINAGAR – Kashmiris across the world are observing Indian Republic Day asBlack Day today (Saturday) in protest against India’s continued denial ofKashmiris’ right to self-determination.
The day is being marked with a complete shutdown in occupied Kashmir,anti-India rallies and demonstrations in world capitals.
The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) has asked the Kashmiri people toobserve complete shutdown on Indian Republic Day, the 26th January, to markthe day as Black Day to remind the world that India’s continued denial ofright to self-determination to the Kashmiris is contrary to its claim ofbeing a democratic republic.
The Joint Resistance Leadership in a statement issued in Srinagar said thatfor past 71 years the people of Jammu and Kashmir had been demanding theirright to self-determination promised to them by the Indian leaders not onlyin the United Nations or the Indian Parliament but also at Srinagar’s LalChowk. However, till this day not only has that commitment remainedunfulfilled but those who remind them of it are rewarded with bullets andpellets and are incarcerated and gagged, it deplored.
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The JRL said that a nation that prides itself on being a representativedemocracy chosen by the free will of its people, is executing tyranny andsuppression to forcibly impose its will over the people of Kashmir. “Lacsof armed personnel are deployed to suppress the aspirations of people anddraconian laws like AFSPA and PSA are invoked to ensure people’s sentimentsdo not get out of hand,” it said.
On the other hand, the puppet authorities have put the entire occupiedKashmir under siege to ensure smooth conduct of Republic Day. Thousands ofIndian troops and police personnel are engaged in frisking and checking ofvehicles and passengers besides carrying out surprise raids.