LONDON (PNI) Massive anti-India and pro-freedom slogans reverberated several cities in the UK and Europe on Tuesday to mark India’s Independence Day as “Black Day.”
Reminding the international community of India’s violation and suppression of Kashmiri and Sikh community, the demonstrators said India had “no right to celebrate freedom” while Kashmiris were living under neo-colonial rule by Indian state.
Protestors walked until outside Indian High Commission in London, Indian consulate in Birmingham and Indian embassy in Copenhagen to renew their pledge to not sit back until Kashmiris get freedom from illegal Indian occupation.
Fahim Kayani, president Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK, said in a statement that while every nation must be free and enjoy civil liberties, “India is muzzling and suppressing Kashmiris from enjoying such rights.”
“India cannot befool international community by claiming to be free and also democratic,” said Kayani, pointing out how India was committing brazen violation of the same international law which ensures such freedom.
“There are UN resolutions in favor of freedom for Kashmir and right to self-determination of Kashmiris and India is blocking the international community from implementing this international promise made with Kashmiris,” said the prominent Kashmiri leader, whose work has left an indelible mark on Kashmiri freedom struggle.
Urging unity of thought and action, Kayani said it demands a strong campaign to challenge the international actors with India’s violations of international law.
“India cannot enjoy western reception while it continues to violate international law. India has put an open challenge to the UN system but not abiding the UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir,” said kayani.
He said demonstrations against India in the UK and in Europe is a commitment made by diaspora with people living under the barrel of gun in Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
“We cannot live in peace until our brothers and sisters and friends in occupied Kashmir see dawn of freedom, in-sha Allah,” said the Kashmiri freedom leader.
Ranjit Singh, lead on self-determination for the World Sikh Parliament, commented, “India’s brazen criminality when it comes to international law, its forcible denial of self-determination and its use of genocide as a policy in suppressing other nations, is unparalleled in the modern era. Sikhs have resolved to liberate their homeland from Indian colonial rule. Khalistan, together with freedom in neighbouring Kashmir, will bring enduring peace to a region that is dangerously close to catastrophic conflict between rival powers. Visiting leaders at the forthcoming G20 summit in New Delhi should tackle Modi on the fascist Hindutva project and make it clear that economic ties will be linked to his compliance with international law and civilised standards.”
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