On 75th Day of Lockdown in Kashmir, A Protest in Delhi for Peace and Freedom in Kashmir

0
580

India Tomorrow

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 20— A citizens’ protest was organised here at Jantar Mantar near the Parliament House on Saturday to protest against the 75 days of lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir. Over 200 activists, academics, intellectuals, prominent citizens and students attended the protest.

Over 30 representatives of various organisations, intellectuals, activists, artists spoke and performed at the event. Those who spoke included Annie Raja, National Genera Secretary, NFIW, Maimoona Mollah, President, AIDWA, Delhi, Revati Laul, independent journalist, D Raja, CPI, Tikendra Panwar, CPI(M), Shabnam Hashmi social activist Anhad, Aliya Shah Mubarak, Shaikh Abdulla’s granddaughter.

“Recognising that the peoples of Jammu & Kashmir are facing a repressive onslaught, and that their lives and liberty are at risk, we, concerned citizens of India on this 75th day of the abrogation of Article 370 & 35A and lockdown of Kashmir, register our protest through poetry, songs of resistance and solidarity with the peoples of Jammu and Kashmir,” the organizers said in an open and joint statement.

Demands:
1. No steps about the future of Jammu & Kashmir are taken without the consent of the peoples of Jammu & Kashmir.

2. Restoration of the pre-August 5, 2019 situation with regard to Article 370 and 35A.

3. Reversal of the bifurcation of the territory, as well as a reversal of its downgrading to the status of a ‘Union Territory’.

4. Immediate scaling back of the troops (armed forces and paramilitaries) deployed in Jammu & Kashmir. Specifically, we call for the withdrawal of CRPF, BSF, ITBP and Indian Army troops deployed in all civilian areas. We call for the dismantling of interrogation centres, which we know are torture cells, and demand the immediate end to the practice of detaining people for any length of time in military and paramilitary camps.

5. We demand to end intimidation and harassment of children and their parents, by police, paramilitary and military personnel. We demand an immediate end to the practice of forcing children to report to police stations, and security barracks. We recognise that the detention of children is being used as an excuse for extortion, and demand immediate action against those in the armed forces, police and paramilitary personnel indulging in this illegal practice.

6. We demand an immediate restoration of communication infrastructure, all forms of mobile telephony (not just the token restoration of Post Paid connections) and the internet. We demand an end to censorship and restriction on the freedom of the press. We call for an end to the harassment and intimidation of journalists, doctors, lawyers and human rights activists.

7. We call for an immediate lifting of restrictions on civil society, and demand the immediate and unconditional release of all detenus, and demand that no further arrests be made. We demand a repeal of draconian measures like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Public Safety Act.

8. We appeal to the Supreme Court of India to cease delaying the application of its judicial power to intervene, especially in Habeas Corpus and Preventive Detention Matters.

9. We appeal to the Supreme Court of India to deal with a sense of urgency and seriousness with the several petitions that address the constitutional crisis occasioned by the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A

10. We appeal to all sections of society, political parties, trade unions, student organizations and individuals to stand with Kashmiris, especially young people and students from Jammu & Kashmir who are in workplaces, neighbourhoods and educational institutions everywhere in India.

The signatories included: J Vijayan, N Sai Balaji, Annie Raja, Shabnam Hashmi, Maimoona Mollah and Nandita Narain.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here