Srinagar: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has called on the people of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir to remain vigilant and resolute in the face of efforts by the BJP-led Indian government to further its Hindutva agenda in the territory.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a statement issued after a meeting in Srinagar, the APHC warned that no individual or group should be allowed to cooperate with the BJP, RSS, or any of their affiliates, as such collaboration would undermine Kashmiris’ legitimate struggle for self-determination.
During the meeting, the APHC leaders emphasized that Kashmiris must not tolerate any form of collaboration with the BJP and RSS, stressing that the people of Kashmir have made immense sacrifices in their pursuit of their inalienable right to self-determination. They firmly asserted that no one should be allowed to undermine these sacrifices for personal or political gains. The statement further pointed out that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, who are responsible for the illegal revocation of IIOJK’s special status, should not be allowed to find collaborators within the territory to further their oppressive agenda.
The meeting also condemned the ongoing brutalities faced by the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and constant cordon and search operations and house raids. The APHC noted that the BJP government’s illegal abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in 2019, have led to widespread violence, political repression, and the systematic suppression of basic rights in the territory. It highlighted the relentless witch-hunt of peace activists and pro-freedom leaders by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the State Investigation Agency (SIA), who have been targeting Kashmiris for their political beliefs. The statement reiterated that the Kashmiris are being victimized simply for asserting their right to self-determination and their demand for freedom from Indian occupation. The Hurriyat leaders reaffirmed that the Kashmiri people remain steadfast in their struggle for justice, freedom, and the restoration of their rights, and they will continue to resist any a
ttempts to undermine their legitimate aspirations.
The meeting also expressed concern over the continued detention of thousands of Kashmiris, including APHC Chairman Masarrat Aalam Butt, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Aasiya Andrabi, Ayaz Akbar, Shahid-ul-Islam, Merajuddin Kalwal, Peer Saifullah, Farooq Ahmad Dar, Fehmeeda Sofi, Naheeda Nasreen, Molvi Bashir Ahmad Irfani, Bilal Siddiqi, Dr Hameed Fayaz, Mushtaq-ul-Islam, Dr Muhammad Qasim Fakhtoo, Dr Muhammad Shafi Shariati, Abdul Ahad Parra, Ameer Hamza, Muhammad Yousuf Falahi, Hayat Ahmed Butt, Rafiq Ahmad Ganai, Zaffar Akbar Butt, Fayaz Hussain Jaferi, Advocate Mian Abdul Qayoom, Advocate Nazir Ahmed Roonga, Advocate Muhammad Ashraf Butt, Advocate Muzaffar Qayoom, Adv Zahid Ali, Firdous Ahmed Shah, Zahoor Ahmed Butt, Umar Adil Dar, Saleem Nanaji, Muhammad Yasin Butt, human rights defender Khurram Parvaiz and others. It called for the immediate release of all political prisoners and human rights defenders currently languishing in Indian and IIOJK jails.
The APHC urged the international community, particularly United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, to press India to cease its state sponsored terrorism in IIOJK and allow the Kashmiri people to decide their political future through a free and fair plebiscite, in accordance with the United Nations resolutions.