Protests remind India of Kashmir occupation on Republic Day

BIRMINGHAM (PNI) Protests and demonstrations were held across the UK on Friday to remind India of its illegal occupation of Kashmir on its Republic Day.

Pro-Kashmir freedom demonstrations were held in Birmingham, Luton, Walsall ,Bradford and Glasgow where allies of Kashmiris demanded fulfillment of promises made to Kashmiris by the UN and the international community.

The protestors marked India’s Republic Day as Black Day arguing New Delhi had “no right to celebrate its constitutional day when it was illegally occupying Kashmir.”

“Celebrating Republic Day is a matter of pride for any nation especially those who gained independence from colonialism but in case of India, this day is another blot on the country since it is violating international law every other day as it continues to occupy Kashmir,” said Fahim Kayani, president of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK.

Kayani recalled how India “has turned into a neo-colonial power by occupying Kashmir using its same constitution which it is celebrating this day.”

“Brazen and violent violation of Kashmiri rights and dignity as well as UN Charter by India in Kashmir demands that international community must question legality of Indian constitution whether it meets international standards,” said Kayani, who leads the UK-based international rights group.

Muhammad Ghalib, who leads Tehreek-e-Kashmir Europe, said Kashmiris were not against Indians celebrating their constitutional rights.

“But it must strike Indian conscience that their state, which has taken an ugly shape with saffronization, is brutally suppressing basic rights of Kashmiris who have been promised right to self-determination by none other than the UN,” Ghalib said.

Kashmiris, Ghalib added, “also would like to enjoy constitutional rights but only after they are allowed to decide their future through a UN-sponsored plebiscite which India is blocking,” said Ghalib.

Thus, he said: “Indians have no right to celebrate their constitutional rights while occupying, colonizing and suppressing basic, fundamental rights as granted by international laws and the UN to Kashmiris.”