Stay away from Jan 26 celebrations: Geelani to people
Srinagar, Jan 24: “India has no right to celebrate its Republic Day in Jammu Kashmir as it has occupied our land with its military might and its presence has tormented all ethics of human and international norms,” said Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani on Thursday.
He also stressed upon the school-going children, their parents and teachers to stay away from all the celebrations of Jan 26 and asked them to realize their “obligations towards nation”.
Hurriyat (G) chairman in a statement issued said that “India claims to be a large democracy in world but virtually stand exposed in Jammu and Kashmir and is trampling all basic and fundamental rights since last seven decades.”
“The very existence of this kind of ruthless statecraft has resulted in gross violations of human rights in the every nook and corner of Jammu and Kashmir. People are left at the mercy of occupational military regime, which kills common people in the broad daylight and in the custody, showers of bullets and pellets on the peaceful protest marches, leaving thousands of people, irrespective of gender and age, maimed, disabled, blind and half dead, has become a routine matter,” he said.
Geelani said “we have no animosity with India or its people and they have every right to celebrate their Republic Day within its states, but despite their being rhetoric about democracy they have no moral and legal right to celebrate it in world recognized disputed land of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Hurriyat (G) chairman while referring to UN charter said that they guarantee the basic and fundamental rights and this institution has obviously called to seek the people’s verdict through plebiscite and has asked to ascertain their wish with regards to political destiny of state.
Even India in its pledge has confirmed to honour and seek the people’s verdict through plebiscite. Despite being signatory to these resolutions, India backtracked from its commitment and not providing this opportunity to people of Jammu and Kashmir, he said.
Geelani strongly condemned the arrest of pro-freedom leaders, activists and youth including Molvi Bashir Irfani, Bilal Sidiqui, Shakeel Ahmad Bhat, Abdul Rashid Lone, Hakeem Javed, Bilal Ahmad Shah and Abdul Rouf ahead of 26 January and said that “Indian Republic Day comes with miseries for Kashmiri people.”
Meanwhile, Geelani paid tributes to armed youth killed in Baramulla gunfight and said that “the youth are sacrificing their precious lives for a greater cause to serve the nation and we are duty-bound to carry their mission to its logical end.”
He blamed the “stubborn attitude” of Indian leadership for continuous bloodshed and said their denial and unconcern is the sole reason for this unabated bloodshed in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, remembering the Handwara and Kupwara massacre victims, Syed Ali Geelani said: “Indian occupational forces have left their brutal footprints in nook and corner of the state.”
He hailed the courageous determination of the families of victims and said “we can never afford to distance from the sacred mission of martyrs and need to try our best to get rid of this humiliated slavery.”
“The best way to pay homage to our beloved heroes is that we should not fall prey to the nefarious designs of our oppressor and their stooges. We should take pledge that we will fight this oppression tooth and nail till our last breath and wishfully will render any sacrifice to achieve our goal,” Geelani said.
While remembering the 23 members of the minority community killed in Wandhama on 25 January 1998, Hurriyat (G) chairman expressed his solidarity and sympathy with the grieved families.