‘Hold referendum, people are free to choose India, Pak or Azadi’
Rising Kashmir News
Srinagar, Sept 08: Stating that people of Jammu and Kashmir should be allowed to exercise the right to self-determination to decide their fate, acting General Secretary of Hurriyat (G) Masarat Alam Bhat Thursday said the Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Muslims of the state are equal stakeholders in the movement.
“The movement is for justice and against discrimination. It was never for Muslims of J&K only. We always believed Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, and Muslims form Jammu and Kashmir. Our struggle is not for territory, our struggle is for people,” reads a statement issued by Bhat.
“We believe in right of self-determination of all peoples within Jammu and Kashmir for the resolution, in which of course people will be free to vote for Pakistan, Independence or India. Let democratic exercise of referendum determine the future of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
Urging people to continue with their “unflinching” support for Hurriyat (G) ‘Quit JK Campaign’ Bhat said, “We are aware of your sufferings and sacrifices. And we are also aware of our collective dream of freedom from Indian occupation. Your sacrifices are an investment for the success of this movement and for long lasting peace and freedom.”
Criticizing the role of Indian intelligentsia, media and civil society, he said, “They legitimize violence on Kashmiris. For them if people of Kashmir demand freedom, we should be silenced, killed and incarcerated. They call us extremist when we are actually resisting their violent fascism.”
Bhat alleged that in last three months more than 2000 young men have been arrested, “most of whom were students”.
“In last three months they have tortured thousands of people, majority amongst these torture survivors are students. Does killing, arresting and torturing students help education system of Jammu and Kashmir?” he said while referring to the critics of Hurriyat (G) programme and its impact on education.
