Kashmiri Americans Organize Peaceful Protest at Iconic Times Square
New York: Kashmiri Americans along with friends of Kashmir, including women and children, gathered at the historic Times Square, New York to reject India’s settler colonialism and show solidarity with the people of Kashmir. The rally was organized by Kashmiri American Community of New York Metropolitan Area.
The protestors held up placards and banners which read:
“Abrogation of article 370 is a joke: Kashmir needs to be set free from Indian yoke;” “Ceasefire Without Addressing Kashmir Problem Cannot Sustain: Pressure on India for Negotiations Should Remain;” “End Indian Colonization of Kashmir;” “End the Occupation: Free Kashmir;”“Ethnic cleansing and demographic changes are shame: Indian government should accept the blame;” “Freedom of Kashmir only Solution: Enslavement Not an Option;” etc.
Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman, World Forum for Peace and Justice, speaking on the occasion, said it is a fact that abrogation of article 370 and 35 A was an act of aggression and assault on the rights of the people of the State. Such attempts are in open contravention of UN Resolution #91 of 1951; #122 adopted on January 24, 1957. These resolutions clearly prohibit any unilateral action to change the disputed nature of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr Fai added that it is the deference shown by the West to India’s military and economic power that reinforces India’s obduracy. It also weakens the liberal section of Indian opinion, like Professor Sumatra Bose, Arundhati Roy, Swaminathan Aiyar, Vir Sanghvi, P. Chidambaram, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Yashwant Sinha and many others who would prefer a sensible and humane policy with respect to Kashmir.
“Since, August 5, 2019, the Indian government, in order to crush any resistance to its illegal occupation, has instituted new draconian measures. In a ruthless campaign they imprisoned politicians, journalists, and civil society members, like, Mohammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Masarat Aalam, Aasia Andrabi and others to intimidate and suppress any form of dissent” Dr Fai claimed.
Raja Mukhtar, Spokesperson of JKLF and main organizer of the rally spoke about the human right tragedy in Indian occupied Kashmir. He demanded the immediate and unconditional release of political prisoners, including Mohammad Yasin Malik.
Sardar Taj Khan, Senior Vice Chairman, Kashmir Mission, USA and co-organizer of the rally said that the Kashmir issue is by no definition a terrorist movement. It is a movement for self-determination, inspired by a spirit for freedom and it has its legitimacy in the United Nations Security Council resolutions. The struggle in Kashmir remains alive and vibrant because the people of Kashmir want to chart their own destiny.
Other speakers on the occasion included Rt. Major Arif Naveed, Chowdhary Maqbool Ahmed Gujjar, member, Azad Kashmir Assembly, Ms Safura Wasim, Advocate Sardar Imtiaz Khan Garalevi, Sardar Sajid Sawar, Raja Bashir, Ataul Zafar, Saghir Khan, Shahid Comrade, Faiz Khalid Quraishi, and Sister Amna Habib. - gnfai2003@yahoo.com
