JRL reiterates shutdown call for Aug 30, 31

Srinagar: Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Miwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik reiterated the two-day protest strike call for August 30 and 31 as the Supreme Court of India hears a series of petitions seeking roll back of hereditary state subject law of J&K.
In a statement issued to KNS, JRL said that it is a highly emotive issue for the people, affecting their very existence as a people in pursuit of their fundamental Right of self determination.
Leadership said that the moment Indian news channels ran a news about a fresh plea submitted in the Indian Supreme Court challenging the state subject law ,there was a spontaneous reaction from people who within seconds hit the streets in protest, while shopkeepers immediately downed their shutters and traffic cane to a halt, which stands as an eye opener for the New Delhi and gives them a clear message that Kashmiris are in no way going to take this assault lying low and are ready to make every sacrifice to safeguard their identity and the disputed status of their state.
The leadership said that people of Kashmir will never allow their birth place to become another Palestine where Israel changed the demography by grabbing land and property of hereditary citizens of Palestine and settled outsiders to change the demographic character of the State.
They strongly condemned the use of brute force on protesting people and students in Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, Bandipora,Sopore Tral, and other areas terming it as the shameful highhandedness of forces , in which dozens of people were injured with many sustaining grave pellet injuries in forces’ action “especially in Pulwama.
They said that “it has become habit of the authoritarian rulers to use military might on every peaceful protest in order to crush every voice raised by us to express our concerns, throwing even basic human principle to winds, not to talk of democratic norms.”
The leadership said that protests and sit-ins by various traders’ bodies and other segments of society will continue till August 31.
They said that in case Supreme Court announces any verdict against the wishes and aspirations of people of J&K, from that very moment mass agitation will start across the State as people will hit the roads in protest and occupy them.
JRL urged people to maintain discipline while expressing their resentment and follow the programs conveyed by JRL. (KNS)