Kashmiris observe right to self-determination today

ISLAMABAD/KOLKATA: Kashmiri people inhibiting across both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and rest of the world would observe the Right to Self-Determination Day today (January 5) to remind the international community of the UN Security Council resolution on Jammu and Kashmir adopted on January 5, 1949, acknowledging their inherent right to self-determination.

Meanwhile, the Indian sanctions in occupied Kashmir entered 153rd day as chilly weather made life of Kashmiris miserable.

Every year, Kashmiri people observe January 5 as self-determination day to draw the world’s attention towards the long standing issue besides sensitising the world community and human rights organisations about early resolution of the decades-long unresolved issue.

The world community especially United Nations and human rights organisation would be urged to pressurise India to end over five-month long lockdown of the state, which has literally turned the state into a big jail where every Kashmiri has been incarcerated since August 5, 2019.

In Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan, the public rallies, seminars, procession and special gatherings will be held to highlight the importance of the day. Speakers will reiterate Kashmiris just and principled stance before the world that they will continue their struggle for right of self-determination till the achievement of the ultimate goal.

They will particularly highlight the reality with the earnest demand about early grant of birth right of self-determination to Kashmiris without further delay and which is being denied by India for over last 72 years.

The right of self-determination day reiterates the long cherished demand of the Kashmiris that they should be granted their birth right to decide about their destiny under the spirit of the internationally-acknowledged UN resolutions, passed by the Security Council this day January 05, 1949.

Meanwhile, senior leader of Communist Party of India (Marxist) Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami has said that the BJP government in New Delhi has turned occupied Kashmir into a virtual prison by locking up leaders of different political parties and by suppressing the dissent after the abrogation of special status of the territory.

Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami speaking at the foundation-day programme of party daily Ganashakti in Kolkatta called upon the Indian intellectuals and members of the civil society to rise in protest against the oppression of people of Kashmir after abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution.

These constitutional provisions provided special status and rights to occupied Kashmir and its citizens.

In a dig at the Indian government’s claim that not a single bullet was fired in occupied Kashmir after the scrapping up of the special status of the territory on August 5 last year Tarigami a four-time member of the so-called Kashmir Assembly said there is no need to fire bullets when the entire valley has been turned into a graveyard.

Tarigami like many other political leaders was detained by the Indian authorities after 5th August move and was allowed to go out of Kashmir following an order by Supreme Court of India in September.

The CPI-M leader said, “How much freedom we got after Amit Shah repealed Article 370.” “Every day there has been no firing and the situation is peaceful. You have made Kashmir a graveyard. What is the point of firing then, he said.

Today it is Kashmir. Tomorrow it can be somewhere else, he said while appreciating the student community for coming out on the roads to protest against the anti-people policies of the BJP.