Srinagar, Jan 25: Chairman, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik while speaking to media person, minutes before he was arrested, said that a nation that propagated its being biggest democracy of the world and was muzzling the voice of political opponents and ‘freedom seekers’ had no right to celebrate Republic Day.
In a press release issued here, JKLF chairman said that India was subjecting the people of Jammu Kashmir to worst kind of oppression and torture from many decades and that it was a ‘glaring’ example of its unwillingness to honor ‘freedom struggle’ and ‘human rights’ of the people. “The republic day of a nation that has snatched the freedom of a poor nation and is constantly denying the rights of people, cannot celebrate Republic Day,” Malik said adding that the “people of Kashmir will observe a complete shutdown and blackout on 26th January as a mark of protest against the travesty of democracy by Indian state in Jammu Kashmir”.
Referring to the historical perspective of Kashmir issue, Malik said that it was India and its leaders like Jawahar Lal Nehru who pledged before the international community about giving Kashmiris the right of self-determination which deny have been denied ever since. “Kashmiris are being killed, maimed, arrested, raided, humiliated and suppressed for demanding the fulfillment of the same promises and pledges. The so-called democracy that is hell bent upon ripping apart all democratic norms to suppress a tiny nation like Kashmir, can only be termed as dictatorial and despotic,” Malik added.
