LONDON: Kashmir Campaign Global on Thursday launched “Free Kashmir” campaign on a section of London transport network ahead of the Republic Day of India on Friday.
Geo News quoted Zaffar Quraishi, Chairman of Kashmir Campaign Global, who hails from Kashmir but lives permanently in London in exile, saying on Thursday that a series of campaigns would be launched across the UK and other parts of the world throughout the year to create awareness about the Kashmir issue.
At least seven vans were seen driving around the British Parliament carrying signboards titled “Free Kashmir”. Vans carrying slogans in favour of an independent homeland for Sikhs carried slogans “Khalistan Zindabad!” and “Raj Karega Khalsa”, sponsored by the Council of Khalistan were also seen in London.
“It has been 70 years since India, Pakistan, and international world promised a free and impartial referendum in Jammu & Kashmir,” Zaffar Quraishi said. “During the last 30 years alone, India has been ruling and subjugating the rightful aspirations of the people as promised by international community through 17 UNSC resolutions by using the Draconian laws such as AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) and PSA (Public Safety Act).”
“These black laws have given immunity to Indian security forces and agencies since 1990 as result there are over 95,000 killed, 10,000 missing persons in Kashmir and thousands of unidentified graves littered across the border of Jammu and Kashmir,” Zaffar Quraishi said, explaining why he was launching the campaign.
“As many as 8,000 half widows waiting for their husbands with no answers from the government if they are dead or alive after being picked by the security agencies, over 1000s of human rights violated daily in Indian-held Kashmir, and yet the world seems to have turned a deaf ear and blind eye to the atrocities committed by the illegally occupying Indian forces in Indian Held Kashmir,” Qureshi added.
The vans carrying pictures of Kashmir children and women called on Indian forces to leave Kashmir and let Kashmiris decide their fate. The campaign has been supported by a group called “British Friends of Kashmir”.
The vans were seen passing from outside 10 Downing Street, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey and Waterloo Bridge.
In the UK, Kashmiris have planned dozens of events across the country to protest against “India’s continued denial of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination”.
Agencies
