Kashmiris living on both sides of the Line of Control as well as rest of the world are observing the Kashmir Martyrs Day today 13 july with a pledge to continue their struggle for achievement of their birthright right to self-determination and freedom of Kashmir from the Indian yoke.
Kashmir Martyrs’ Day has been commemorated annually on July 13 to mark the incident of July 13, 1931, when 22 Kashmiris were martyred in their attempts to complete the call for prayer outside the Srinagar Central jail, by soldiers of Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh.
The people rose against Dogra rule and protested against the prosecution of sympathizer of Kashmir struggle, Abdul Qadeer Khan Ghazi. It was the beginning of Kashmir freedom struggle which has different phases including political struggle as well as civilian protests.
After abrogation of the article 370 BJP dropped Kashmir Martyrs’ Day from its list of public holidays for 2020, while ironically October 26 was added to be observed as ‘Accession Day’ which was in fact the Day of Occupation of the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir IOJ&K.
Though the IOJ&K has been brutalised for years, but since the lockdown in August 5, 2019 Indian security forces have become even more inhumane and brutal for the 8 million caged Kashmiris.
Amid the increased militarization (900,000 Indian occupation forces), dehumanization of Kashmiris after annexation of IOJ&K, the frustration, anger and resentment masses in IOJ&K is rising. Since the Indian National Congress has been replaced by the saffronised BJP government, the latter’s religious-nationalism has tried make an internationally dangerous conflict a national political issue and change the complexion of conflict by drastic and illegal actions on August 5, 2019 that preclude peaceful and just resolution.
Under BJP’s fascist regime, a comprehensive enslavement plan, encapsulating sweeping administrative changes aimed at altering the demographic structure of IOJ&K and stripping its people of their rights was devised and enforced brutally.
The BJP government has attempted to change the demography of IOJ&K through ‘constitutional terrorism’ followed by flooding of the Muslim majority region with Hindus to palestinise Kashmir. Under the new Domicile law, India has issued domicile certificates to 32000 outsiders since May 11. It would facilitate non-Kashmiris to settle in the state to rob it of its Muslim identity.
The transgressions by India in IOJ&K constitute blatant violation of the UNSC resolutions on Kashmir, bilateral agreements between India and Pakistan, 4th Geneva Convention.
