Srinagar: The joint resistance leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, has postponed the scheduled TRC Chalo rally on October 14 in the wake of serious concern and distress caused among people due to braid chopping incidents.
The leaders in a joint statement issued to news agency GNS said the braid chopping incidents are increasing and spreading across the valley leading to great insecurity and fear among the people. They said it looks one more ploy to “unnerve and frustrate” the resilient and unyielding people of Kashmir.
They said the “callousness and insensitivity” displayed by members of the PDP-BJP government towards this matter of grave concern by dismissing it as a “phobia” and “hysteria ” among people who they say are “imagining ” such things looks deliberate and again exposes their total disconnect and apathy towards the people of Kashmir.
The leaders said people have been left completely at their own mercy to deal with this crisis and police and related institutions are in denial. “While these institutions are quick and pre-emptive at pelleting and locking up Kashmiris, branding them stone pelters and anti-nationals and boast of a great local information network about militants, yet when it comes to nabbing miscreants who are assaulting the dignity of our women, they say they are clueless and need help,” they said.
Geelani, Mirwaiz and Malik urged people to defeat this design by not giving in to fear as “that is the main aim of this ploy”. They said the brave people should operate normally and with composure despite the deliberate conditions of fear being created around them. People, they said, will defeat the designs of those behind this despicable act.
The leaders asked people to form local committees in each mohalla/locality to deal with this challenge and increase vigil in and around the area and to exercise restraint and discretion when dealing with anyone found involved in these incidents.
“People will continue to raise their voice against this shameful assault and will peacefully protest it on Friday while students of colleges and universities across Kashmir will stage peaceful protests on Thursday against the attack on the chastity of their sisters and mothers,” the leaders said. (GNS)
