Srinagar: “Open freedom provided to hooligans by administration in Jammu is highly condemnable, and the silence of saner elements, civil society and liberals of Jammu on the hooliganism of chauvinist attacks on Muslims and Kashmiris amounts to criminal attitude of these people,” said the chairman of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Muhammad Yasin Malik while condemning the attacks on Kashmiris in Jammu and many parts of India after the Pulwama attack.
Kashmiri Muslims will leave no stone unturned to protect their Jammu brethren and other minorities, Yasin Malik said. “We want to ask all chauvinists and communal elements to stop this hooliganism immediately as it is in their interest too.”
Terming the attacks on Kashmiris as most reprehensible and act of cowardice, JKLF chairman in a statement issued to GNS said: “It has been an old practice of fascists in Jammu to stand against Muslims and Kashmiris on every issue and aspect be it social, religious, political or even criminal in nature. In 1947, Jammu chauvinists massacred more than three hundred thousand Muslims and changed the demography of that land.”
On the other hand, Malik said, Kashmiris not only safeguarded minorities but provided them shelter and defended religious harmony. “Even Gandhi Ji acknowledged that gesture of Kashmiri Muslims and said if there is any hope for humanity, it is in Kashmir,” he said.
JKLF chairman said in 2008, people of Kashmir raised their voices for an illegal transfer of land to Amarnath Shrine board. It was not an agitation against some religion but against an act that was eroding our basic state subject law.
“Jammu in retaliation blocked the main highway, stopped supply of even baby food, life saving drugs and essential commodities to Valley. Kashmiri drivers and trucks were attacked and many burnt alive. It was an enough provocation but Kashmiri Muslims reciprocated these venomous acts by sheltering Amarnath Yatris and tourists, arranging community kitchens for them and escorting them to safety as taught and directed by our religion Islam, holy book Qur’an and sayings of the last Messenger of Allah Prophet Muhammad (SAW).,” he said.
Malik said Kashmiri Muslims have a history of being non-communal, humane and harmonious and “we as a nation have always and in all seasons and weathers protected this humanity and harmony”.
“The limit of brazenness of these chauvinists is such that they even followed their inhuman and unethical attitude to protect rapists and killers of innocent Asifa in Kathua and unfurled Indian flag,” JKLF chief said.
“What is happening in Jammu right now is shameful in every respect but what is more pathetic is the behaviour of government administration which is busy in protecting and abetting the hooligans and chauvinist forces attacking Muslims and Kashmiris, torching their vehicles, shops and beating and vandalizing them,” Yasin Malik said.
JKLF chairman added: “Kashmiris are striving for a just cause and no matter what kind of oppression is unleashed on us by the oppressors; we will never budge from pursuing this path and keep struggling for our right to freedom and self-determination.”
Meanwhile, Malik has expressed heartfelt grief over the demise of Ghulam Rasool Dar, father of incarcerated resistance leader Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bita Karatay. (GNS)
