MUZAFFARABAD: Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and across the world observed Indian Republic Day as Black Day to convey to the world that India has usurped the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people for the past over seven decades.
The day was marked with complete shutdown in Occupied Kashmir and anti-India rallies and demonstrations in world capitals.
Call for observance of the Black Day and shutdown was given by the Joint Resistance Leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik.
The puppet authorities had put the entire occupied Kashmir especially Srinagar and Jammu under siege. Indian troops and police personnel were deployed in strength in every nook and corner of the occupied territory, causing huge inconvenience to the people.
The authorities sealed the Jamia Masjid Srinagar and disallowed people from offering Juma prayers while mobile internet services across the occupied territory were suspended.
In Islamabad, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir chapter and the Occupied Kashmir Journalist Association staged demonstrations to condemn the Indian state terrorism in occupied Kashmir.
Leaders of All Parties Hurriyat Conference Jammu and Kashmir lodged a strong protest in Islamabad today to mark Indian Republic Day as Black Day.
They termed India’s continued denial of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination as contrary to its claim of being a democratic republic.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary General APHC Abdul Hameed Lone urged the world community to take notice of grave human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir.
He said India is committing genocide of Kashmiri people in Occupied Kashmir. He said the United Nations should play its due role for resolution of Kashmir issue.
Expressing his views, APHC leader Sheikh Abdul Mateen said the voice of Kashmiri people for their freedom is just and New Delhi cannot suppress it through the use of brutal force.
On his part, APHC leader Abdul Majeed Malik said we reject the illegal Indian occupation in occupied Kashmir, and our struggle will continue till realization of right to self determination of the Kashmiri people. The protestors were holding banners and placards inscribed with anti-India and pro-freedom slogans. NNI