Kashmiris struggling for right to self-determination, not development projects: Masarrat Aalam
#FalseNarrativeOfDevelopmentInIIOJK
Srinagar: Illegally detained All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Masarrat Aalam Butt has rejected Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent announcements of development projects in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, emphasizing that Kashmiris are not fighting for development or privileges but for their birthright, the right to self-determination.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a special message from notorious Tihar Jail in New Delhi, which was released in Srinagar, Masarrat Aalam Butt reiterated that the Kashmiris were demanding their legitimate right to self-determination, a promise made by Indian rulers to the international community. He highlighted the numerous United Nations resolutions supporting this right, which India has suppressed using military force.
The APHC chairman criticized Modi’s visit as an attempt to mislead the international community about the dire situation in the occupied territory. He pointed out that the complete strike observed by the Kashmiris during the visit exposed India’s false claims of normalcy. “If the situation in the occupied territory is normal, then why does India need to station around one million of its forces’ personnel here?” he questioned. He noted that occupied Jammu and Kashmir has essentially been turned into a military camp, with one soldier for every five residents.
Masarrat Aalam Butt asserted that sustainable peace and development in the region cannot be achieved without resolving the Kashmir dispute in line with UN resolutions. “Despite facing severe atrocities from India, the morale of Kashmiris remains high, and they are determined to continue their struggle until they achieve self-determination”.
Expressing grave concern over the miserable plight of Kashmiri detainees languishing in the jails of India and IIOJK, the APHC chairman urged international human rights organizations to send their teams to observe the situation in these prisons.
Meanwhile, illegally detained APHC leader Maulana Sarjan Barkati in a statement in Srinagar said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to occupied Jammu and Kashmir is nothing but misleading the world.
He said Jammu and Kashmir is an open prison in the world where holding a ceremony under the guard of the Indian forces is an attempt to give the impression to the international community that there is normalcy in the occupied territory.
He said that yoga is against Islamic teachings and Muslims of Kashmir should stay away from this practice.
