MUZAFFARABAD: Public rallies were held across Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Monday to mark January 26 as a “Black Day,” coinciding with India’s Republic Day.
Participants reiterated their demand for freedom and condemned what they described as Indian oppression in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Large numbers of people took part in peaceful demonstrations in various areas of Azad Kashmir. Protesters voiced strong opposition to Indian rule in the disputed region and renewed their support for the Kashmiri freedom movement.
Slogans were raised against Indian security forces, and banners highlighting rampant human rights violations were displayed.
Addressing the rallies, speakers said that India’s governance in occupied Kashmir had no legal or moral justification. They rejected what they termed “rule at gunpoint,” stating that Kashmiris would neither accept nor allow such a system to continue.
The speakers also referred to the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019, saying it deprived Kashmiris of their constitutional and political rights.
Participants questioned India’s claim of being a democratic country, arguing that a state accused of fascism, oppression, and terrorism cannot be termed democratic.
They maintained that India has no moral right to celebrate Republic Day while committing abuses in occupied Kashmir. Some speakers also highlighted persecution of minorities in India.
The protesters appealed to the United Nations and the international community to take notice of the situation in Kashmir. They said the rallies reflected the collective consciousness of the Kashmiri people, emphasizing that they remain united and steadfast in their demand for the right to self-determination.
Organizers said such demonstrations aimed to draw global attention to the ongoing political, constitutional, and human rights violations in occupied Kashmir, adding that these actions cannot be concealed from the world.
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