Replying to the comments of Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh wherein he had said that Kashmir, Kashmiris and Kashmiriyat belong to them (India) only, Chairman JKLF Muhammad Yasin Malik Monday said that “we want to ask him how Kashmir is theirs; how Kashmiriyat is theirs and how Kashmiris do belong to them.”According to a statement issued to KNS, Malik said, “Indian parliament, Indian leaders like Nehru, United Nations and other forums time and again have pledged Kashmiris their right of self determination but when Kashmiris ask for fulfilment of these pledges and covenants, they are being killed, maimed, blinded, arrested maligned, humiliated and terrorized by the biggest democracy of India. So, Kashmir does not belong to India but to Kashmiris who are its masters and heirs.”On Rajnath Singh’s assertions that Kashmiris also belong to them (India), JKLF chairman said that “if Indian home minister is so sure of Kashmiris being with India, he and his government should not hesitate from giving Kashmiris the right of self determination that has been promised to them by not only the international community but by Indian parliament and its erstwhile leaders.”JKLF chairman said that if Kashmiris are with India then Indian leadership should feel safe in providing them the right to choose their future because according to Rajnath Singh’s belief then, Kashmiris will vote in favor of India.
Terming the claims of some Indian leaders that resistance in Kashmir is only within three districts as ‘laughable’, JKLF chairman said that “if these Indians believe in their own sayings then they should be more than happy to hold referendum in Kashmir and belie our claim.”On Indian home minister’s claim that Kashmiryat also belongs to India, JKLF chairman said that “Kashmiryat is another name for humanity and it is our belief that Kashmiryat is about adhering to our religion Islam and means to safeguard the interests, lives, honour, dignity and properties of minorities living alongside us.”“Kashmiryat is integral to our liberation struggle and is guided by Islamic principles of humanism, tolerance and respect for all our minorities and the marginalized. How can those people following fascism claim Kashmiryat to be theirs, who massacred lakhs of Jammu Muslims in 1947 and whose hands are soaked with the blood of Muslims, Dalits, Christians and who are lynching innocents under the garb of saving cows,” he added.JKLF chairman said that on these facts “we want to tell Home Minister and other Indian leaders that neither Kashmir belongs to them, nor do Kashmiris and Kashmiryat belong to them (India). In fact Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris who are the guardians of its land and its traditions of tolerance, hospitality and respect for human dignity. Without resolving Kashmir issue no one can dream of lasting peace, prosperity and stability in south Asia.” (KNS)