Defying strict curfew, Awami Itehaad Party (AIP) Tuesday organized a sit-in protest at Srinagar against ‘state terrorism’ and continued killings of innocents. Led by Er Rasheed, protestors carrying play-cards and black flags, appeared from various nooks and corners of Lal Chowk and started silent sit-in near Press Colony and later people from different walks of life joined the sit-in.As per statement issued to KNS, addressing media persons on the occasion Er Rasheed said that atrocities of the state have touched the worst heights and said that while Rajnath Singh was claiming in the Parliament that Kashmiris are our own people, the army didn’t hesitate to kill even women and children in Qazigund. He added that while army has regretted the loss of life but it cannot get the lives back and army is regret amounts to confession of the murder. Er Rasheed lashed out at Congress and BJP and accused them of using blood of Kashmiris to retain and regain power in New Delhi by misleading Indian masses in the name of so called national interest.
He reiterated that he is starting a peaceful sit-in in front of Indian Parliament from 21st July 2016 to give a wakeup call to the Parliamentarians of India who claimed to be representing world’s largest democracy. Er Rasheed said, “Not only that security forces have been given a free hand to kill Kashmiris by bullets, pellet guns and by continued strict curfew, but now even life saving drugs are being removed from hospitals under a well crafted plan. The ego and arrogance has reached a level where New Delhi seems to have decided not to even give a damn to Kashmiris and force them to surrender, but the history has proven time and again that the draconian moves to suppress the victims have always failed universally. The fact is that when Congress was ruling in the Centre, it did nothing to resolve Kashmir dispute due to the fear that BJP may exploit it among Indian masses and now when BJP is ruling in the Centre, Congress is doing the same what BJP did in the past, thus both these parties are busy in playing a dirty politics over the enormous sufferings of Kashmiris.” He said.
He repeated his demand to hold talks with militant leadership and other stakeholders and said that whatsoever he has been pleading and preaching in and outside assembly during last 8 years has been proven right beyond doubt.Er Rasheed appealed world community to take notice of atrocities on unarmed Kashmiri people and added that he is meeting Ambassadors of various countries in New Delhi, urging them to use their good offices to save humanity in Kashmir and help in persuading India for a durable settlement of Kashmir dispute.He added that the colonial attitude of Indian state got exposed when it allowed selective TV Channels to put a manufactured version of the story from various parts of valley but forced the local print media to stop their publications.Rashid said that the contradiction between statements of Amitabh Matoo and Nayeem Akhtar regarding blocking publication of newspapers has exposed the immoral and unethical face of government and added that ironically rather taking action against Nayeem Akhtar for his unwanted dictates government made SP Budgam an escape-goat.Er Rasheed also thanked people of Jammu and Ladakh region for their complete solidarity with Kashmiri people and added that people of Chenab valley, Pir-Panchal region and elsewhere in Jammu and Ladakh have given a befitting reply to those who were always making false claims that it is only Kashmiris who want a resolution to the Kashmir dispute. (KNS)