Srinagar: Leaders and organizations associated with the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) have declared October 27 as the darkest day in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, commemorating the 1947 invasion by Indian forces and the subsequent occupation.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) released a statement through Advocate Arshad Iqbal in Srinagar, condemning the date when India forcibly took control of the region. Iqbal termed the invasion “naked aggression” lacking legal or moral grounds and decried the prolonged military occupation’s dire effects on the Kashmiri populace. He accused India of brutally suppressing the Kashmiris’ rights for decades, calling it an attack on their political and democratic freedoms.
The historic resistance against Indian dominance was also highlighted by Iqbal, who noted, “Despite suffering at the hands of Indian tyrants, the valiant people of Kashmir have never accepted its dominance over the region.” He voiced a strong message of resilience and hope for the success of the Kashmiri struggle for autonomy.
APHC leader Ghulam Nabi War also remarked on the significance of October 27, known locally as Black Day, to protest India’s ongoing occupation. He recounted the initial atrocities and state terrorism that accompanied the arrival of Indian troops in Srinagar 77 years ago, which he said the Kashmiris have steadfastly opposed.
In a contrasting note of celebration and resistance, APHC leader Farida Bhenji, chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Mass Movement, acknowledged the 77th anniversary of Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomous government. She called on this government to bolster efforts in supporting IIOJK’s people against Indian aggression and urged unity in Azad Jammu and Kashmir to intensify efforts towards ending the occupation.
These statements collectively underscore the ongoing discontent and resistance among Kashmiris towards Indian policies and actions in the region, reflecting a community continually striving for self-determination and freedom from foreign rule.