Kashmiri-Americans and allies stage protest at New York’s Times Square
Slogans like ‘Modi Guilty of Crimes Against Humanity in Kashmir’ raised
New York: Braving thundershower, a large number of Kashmiri-Americans – men, women and children – and their allies staged a demonstration at New York’s historic Times Square to denounce India’s widespread human rights abuses in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir and urged the world community to implement the UN-pledged right to self-determination to the Kashmiri people.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the rally was jointly organized by all Kashmiri-American Diaspora organizations to mark the fifth anniversary of India’s brutal siege of Jammu and Kashmir. Waving banners and shouting slogans, the demonstrators condemned India’s August 5th action in annexing occupied Kashmir that has sparked off a crisis in the disputed territory. They also voiced support and solidarity with the Kashmiri people who are facing the existential threat due to illegal actions taken by Modi administration.
The demonstrators raised vociferous slogans of “Modi Guilty of Crimes Against Humanity in Kashmir”; “India: Guilty of Genocide in Kashmir”;” Kashmiris Reject Indian Occupation: UN Resolutions only Solution,”; “Indian Forces: Out of Kashmir”; “No justice: No Peace”; “Freedom for all: Freedom for Kashmir”, etc.
Dr. Imtiaz Khan, a prominent Kashmiri American scholar said that on 5 August 2019, India revoked the special status, granted Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir — where according to UN resolutions, governments of India and Pakistan were supposed to restore peace and order and prepare for a plebiscite to decide the fate of Kashmir.
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Secretary General, World Kashmir Awareness Forum said that the events of August 5, 2019, are consistent with the ruthless occupation and suppression the people of Kashmir have suffered under the unpopular Indian rule. As is widely acknowledged and documented internationally, this brutal occupation has led to more than 100,000 civilian deaths, more than 10,000 individuals missing or disappeared, and thousands of Kashmiri women raped. This does not even begin to account for the tens of thousands tortured, maimed, and permanently injured men, women and children by the Indian military and paramilitary forces during their 77-year reign of terror.
Imam Saffet Catovic, a long-time US Muslim Community Organizer/Activist and Environmental leader said that he would like to see a humane resolution of all international conflicts including that of Palestine and Kashmir. He added that the killings of innocent civilians in Gaza and Indian occupied Kashmir must shake the conscience of all peace-loving people. Imam Saffet continued that the atrocities committed on the peace-loving people of Palestine and Kashmir are continuing unabated. The silence of the world powers cannot be explained.
Sardar Zarif Khan via videoconferencing and thanked the participants for taking time to be the part of the rally in New York despite very bad weather. He said that India’s war crimes in Kashmir are notorious. Their presence has made Kashmir the largest army concentration anywhere in the world.
Sardar Taj Khan, Vice Chairman of Kashmir Mission USA, said that rape is a recognized war crime, and countless Kashmiri women have been raped by Indian army.
Sardar Zulfiqar Roshan Khan said that the people of Kashmir have given sacrifices beyond imagination.
Sardar Shoaib Irshad, Joint Secretary, ‘Kashmir American Welfare Association’ (KAWA) said that Indian army is brutalizing and terrorizing Kashmiris to instill utmost fear so that they cannot even whisper about right of self-determination.
Raja Mukhtar said that Indian government is changing the demographic character of Kashmir by providing domicile certificates so that Muslim majority character is changed.
Advocate Sardar Imtiaz Khan Garalvai alerted that whole Kashmir has been converted into a concentration camp.
Sardar Aftab Roshan Khan said that Since, August 5, 2019, the Indian government, in order to crush any resistance to their illegal occupation, has instituted new draconian measures.
Sardar Sajid Sawar said that the Kashmir dispute could only be resolved through the free exercise by the Kashmiri people of their UN-pledged right of self-determination, and not by military means as India was attempting to do.
Professor Saeed said that it is beyond doubt that the longer the United Nations and world powers ignore Jammu & Kashmir, the more dangerous and intractable the crisis becomes.
Professor Rashid Shah said that the Global Kashmiri diaspora leadership has unanimously resolved to pursue the struggle to protect the unique and historical identity of the State of Jammu and Kashmir against all challenges.
Raja Razzak appealed to all peoples of conscience and the international community to raise their voices against the brutal oppression the people of Jammu and Kashmiri are suffering under the occupying forces of India.
Sagher Ahmed of Kashmir American Alliance called on India to accede to international law in Kashmir and to cooperate in holding a referendum.
Ms. Amana Taj said the lives and hopes of Kashmiris should not be snuffed out by a “might-makes-right” approach to international relations, moral values and universal principles.
Nazam Hussain expressed concern over the silence of the world powers over the genocidal situation in Kashmir.
Khalid Fahim said that whole population of Azad Kashmir is standing with the oppressed people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Imtiaz Khan of New Jersey urged the UN Secretary General to persuade India to disarm and withdraw all Indian military and paramilitary personnel from the villages and towns so that all the people in Jammu &Kashmir can exercise their right of self-determination through a free and fair referendum.
Sardar Farooq Khan of Virginia said that Kashmiris have proved that Indian barbarism cannot kill their desire for right to self-determination.
Sadaqat Hayat of Vancouver Canada expressed his unconditional moral support to the people of Kashmir for a just and peaceful struggle.
Others who spoke included Haji Mohaqmmad Shafi, Tariq Nazeer, Khurshid Shaheen, Tahseen Ahmed, Khizar Kiani, Abid Khan, Latif Kiani, Sorab Khan, Iltaf khan, Sardar Farooq New York, Sardar Habib, Zeeshan Walyat, Zahid Shahbaz, Mirza Farooq, Manzoor Hussain Dunya news, Samad Khan and Shahzad Hussan. KMS-6K
