Yatra attack: Joint Resistance hails Kashmiri people for condemnation

Srinagar: Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) of Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik hailed the people of Kashmir for showing their deep resentment and unequivocal condemnation against the killing of Amarnath yatris and rushing to provide aid and assistance to the injured in hospitals. JRL said it is highly commendable that despite being subject to severe state brutalization and unprecedented repression for decades, and hatred promoted against them through Indian electronic media, the people of Kashmir have retained their humanitarian values and their belief in the great Kashmir ethos is intact. The protests over this ghastly act and the participation of all segments of society in them is heartening to see.
JRL said this should serve as an eye opener to those who encourage polarization as a political tool and leave no stone unturned to demonize a people through media and crush them by use of force or their just political aspirations that have a historical and democratic bases.
Expressing deep sorrow at the martyrdom of three young Kashmiri boys Auqib Gul of Goripora, Tafazul Islam of Narbal and Sajad Ahmed Gilkar of Nowhatta at the hands of the Indian forces at Radbugh Budgam, the leadership paid glowing tributes to them. The leadership said that it greatly pains us that our youth instead of pursuing a future for themselves are forced to take up arms to resist occupation and its consequent oppression upon the people of Kashmir. Many among the youth are those whom constant persecution and witch hunt by the state through slapping of PSAs and FIRs by the police and other state agencies pushes them to the wall.
JRL said that all bloodshed on all sides is uncalled for unfortunate and painful and should stop and that can happen only when the reality of Kashmir is accepted and ways and means of resolving the dispute addressed by the Indian State.
Leadership strongly condemned the restrictions imposed in downtown srinagar to prevent the funeral prayers of Sajad Ahmed of Nowhatta at Jamia Masjid and the indiscriminate teargas shelling and pellet firing on the mourners both in Hyderpora and Nowhatta in which scores of people got severely injured including some media men covering it. They said such acts are catalysts for peoples resistance against injustice and tyranny.
Referring to the remarks made by the Indian Minister at a press briefing in Srinagar today JRL said that resorting to nationalistic rhetoric, denial of ground realities and degrading the resistance leadership will not help in changing the grave situation in Kashmir for better. The leadership said that if the GOI is seriously interested in the welfare of the youth of Kashmir and wants peace in the region then it has to engage with their political sentiment and aspirations and give them the basic right to decide their future dispensation as guaranteed by the first PM of India and the international Community. (KNS)