MUZAFFARABAD: People of Jammu and Kashmir across Line of Control (LoC) on Wednesday observed the Right of Self-determination Day with a renewed pledge to continue their ongoing struggle with full vigor for securing their legitimate right of self-determination through the implementation of the UN resolutions passed this day 73 years ago in 1949.
This year too, the Right to Self-determination Day was observed when India, by openly violating and denying all international norms and commitments including the United Nations resolutions on Kashmir, abrogated the special status of the internationally-acknowledged disputed state of the Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir through scrapping Article 370 and 35-A of her own constitution since her August 5, 2019.
The unilateral act turned the entire Indian-held Kashmir valley in to world’s largest prison for the last over three years through confining the population in the restive valley into their houses and imposing a complete information blockade in the internationally-acknowledged disputed territory.
Despite rains almost across Azad Jammu Kashmir, special gatherings hosted by various social and political organizations in various parts of the liberated territory especially the capital city of Muzaffarabad Mirpur and Rawalakot were the hallmark of the day.
The special meetings highlighted the importance of early grant of the right to self-determination to Jammu Kashmir people – which was being suppressed and denied by India over the last 73 years by occupational military forces.
The meetings strongly condemned the repeated violation of the line of control by India through the frequent incidents of the unprovoked firing by the Indian troops on the LoC in AJK facing occupied Jammu and Kashmir state.
They called upon the United Nations and other international community to take immediate notice of the increased aggressive designs of India in the region – which they warned, may turn into a conventional war in the region.
In Mirpur, speakers demanded immediate taking up of the Indian sinister and unilateral act of August 5, 2019 that had scrapped the special status of the disputed Jammu Kashmir State, in the international court of justice to challenge the unlawful action by the fascist Modi regime.
While bitterly criticsing the United Nations hostile and irresponsible role and failures in implementing its security council’s resolutions on Kashmir, the speakers called upon the world body to fulfill its due responsibilities to ensure early holding of plebiscite in the disputed Jammu Kashmir state to pave the way for early granting of the right of self-determination.
The speakers reiterated Kashmiris’ just and principled stance to continue their struggle for the right of self-determination till the achievement of the ultimate goal.
They particularly highlighted the reality with the earnest demand about early granting the right of self-determination to Kashmiris without further loss of time and which was being denied by India since last 73 years because of her traditional hostile and stubborn attitude.
The right to self-determination day reiterates the long-cherished demand of the Kashmiris that they should be granted their right to decide about their destiny under the spirit of the internationally-acknowledged UN resolutions.
Kashmiris observe this day every year to invite the attention of the world especially to remind UN to immediately move for implementation of January 5, 1949 resolutions on Kashmir to ensure granting the right to self-determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.