Kashmiris reject elections, demand plebiscite as Amit Shah announces Sept 30 deadline
Srinagar: Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders have rejected Indian Home Minister Amit Shah’s announcement that assembly elections will be held in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir before September 30.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the leaders said that Kashmiris are demanding a plebiscite in accordance with United Nations resolutions, not elections.
The elections, which will be conducted under the Indian Constitution, have been met with opposition from Kashmiris who have historically rejected Indian rule. The Hurriyat leaders maintained that this move is yet another attempt to deceive the international community and suppress the Kashmiri people’s demand for the right to self-determination.
Kashmiris have been fighting for their freedom from Indian occupation for decades, and the situation remains unresolved. The territory has seen numerous elections in the past, but they have been marred by violence and allegations of fraud, the leaders added.
The Hurriyat leaders said that these elections will also not be free and fair, and will only serve to further entrench Indian rule over the occupied territory. They urged the international community to intervene and support the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
The announcement by Amit Shah has sparked widespread anger and resentment among Kashmiris, who see it as another attempt by India to impose its will on the territory.
