Black day observed against Indian occupation of Kashmir in UK

LONDON: British Kashmiris have called on the British prime minister Theresa May to raise the issue of Kashmir’s occupation with the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during her upcoming visit to India and help stop the genocide of Kashmiris.

The demand was made in a memorandum which was presented here at 10 Downing Street to Theresa May at the end of a demonstration in which a large number of people participated here outside her residence.

Around 3,500 Kashmiris from all over the UK attended the protest. Chaudhary Yasin, leader of the opposition in Azad Kashmir’s Legislative Assembly, and Raja Najabit Hussain organised the protest.

This was one of the largest ever Kashmiri protests held against India outside 10 Downing Street. Chaudhary Yasin campaigned for this protest for more than a month across the UK cities with communities originating from Azad Kashmir.

He told Geo News that October 27, 1947, is remembered as the day when India forcibly took over the land of Kashmir and unleashed a wave of terror on the innocent people of Kashmir. He said that he had been campaigning for this protest to highlight the tragedy that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been denied the right of self-determination since 1947 and the world is silent.

“We are marking the 69th anniversary of the Indian invasion of Jammu Kashmir, which was authorised by Lord Mountbatten at the time, the Governor General of India, through a huge demonstration here to seek attention of the British government which has a moral obligation towards the people of occupied Kashmir. Jammu Kashmir was invaded by foreign forces in late October 1947 and matter was taken to United Nations by the government of India and subsequently United Nation Resolution of 13th August 1948 stipulated that the people of Jammu Kashmir be given the right of self-determination through a free and fair plebiscite.”

He said that over 100,000 Kashmiris have been massacred; 30,000 gang-raped by Indian armed forces; tens of thousands men and women in prisons without trial; tens of thousands missing; mass graves uncovered in Jammu Kashmir and thousands blinded since 8th July 2016.

Chairman Jammu Kashmir Self-Determination Movement Raja Najabit Hussain said that India is a criminal enterprise and must be sanctioned by the international community for its war crimes against the people of Kashmir.

He said that Jammu Kashmir issue is not bilateral nor a territorial issue between the governments of India and Pakistan. He said that Kashmiris have welcomed the recent initiative taken by Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif on the floor of United Nations General Assembly on 21st September 2016, confirming that Pakistan is willing to Demilitarise Jammu Kashmir and will cooperate with UN to ensure implementation of UN Resolution of 13th August 1948, allowing the people of Jammu Kashmir unconditional right of self-determination accepted by both India and Pakistan and promised by United Nations some 68 Years ago.

Kashmiri leaders presented a memorandum to 10 Downing Street calling on the PM to raise the Jammu Kashmir issues with Indian government during her official visit to India and encourage him for peace and stability within Asian sub-continent and beyond.

The petition asked the British government to press India to stop use of excessive force against innocent’s civilians; withdrew curfew and allow normality within the state; release political leadership and detainees including renowned human rights activist Khurram Pervez; allow relief NGO’s and international human rights organisations unfettered access into Jammu Kashmir to monitor the situation on the ground; and return of mortal remains of martyr Maqbool Butt and martyr Afzal Guru.