Srinagar, Kashmiris in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC), and around the globe are preparing to observe India’s Republic Day as a Black Day. The day, marked by a complete shutdown in IIOJK, is a protest against India’s denial of their right to self-determination.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and other Hurriyat organizations have called for the observance of Black Day. The day in occupied Kashmir will be marked by a complete strike, while anti-India demonstrations and rallies are planned in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, and various world capitals.
Jailed APHC Chairman Masarrat Aalam Butt and incarcerated senior leader Shabbir Ahmed Shah, both detained in Tihar jail, have reiterated the call for a Black Day across the territory. APHC leaders and affiliated parties have condemned India for imposing widespread repression, frequent cordon and search operations, random arrests, and restrictions on businesses and social activities. They have urged the people to boycott all Indian celebrations to signify their rejection of the Indian illegal occupation and their determination to secure their right to self-determination.
APHC leader Farida Bahenji, in a statement from Srinagar, expressed deep concern over the escalating oppression in the territory and appealed to the global community to intervene against India’s atrocities and to find a resolution to the Kashmir issue in line with UN resolutions.
A spokesperson for Ittihad-ul-Muslimeen criticized India’s celebration of its Republic Day, stating that the essence of such celebrations is marred when countries like India deny freedom to their people. The spokesperson highlighted India’s continuous military occupation of Jammu and Kashmir since 1947 and the existence of United Nations resolutions that call for the end of oppressive control and recognition of the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
Meanwhile, APHC-AJK Convener Mehmood Ahmed Saghar and other leaders emphasized that the presence of Indian forces in occupied Jammu and Kashmir is illegal, illegitimate, and unconstitutional. They asserted that Kashmiris’ destiny is freedom from India and that India’s presence in the region poses a threat to peace.
The collective statements from these leaders underscore the Kashmiri stance that the region’s destiny lies in their struggle for self-determination and the international community’s recognition of their rights. APHC-AJK leader Sheikh Yaqoob called for an immediate end to the Kashmiris’ genocide and insisted on implementing the UN resolutions for a plebiscite as the only valid basis for the final settlement.