New Delhi, August 10 (KMS): Students and professionals, hailing from occupied Kashmir, staged a demonstration in New Delhi to protest against the scrapping of Article 370 by India and asked the Indian authorities to lift the restrictions imposed in the occupied territory.
The protesters covered their mouths with black ribbons and carried placards during the protest held at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Dozens of students from Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and other educational institutions in Delhi as well as professionals took part in the protest.
“We have not been able to talk to our families for the last 5-6 days. Our immediate concern is the well-being of our families living under curfew in the territory,” said a student, Qamar Chaudhary, who hails from Poonch.
Faiq Faizan, one of the organizers of the demonstration, said lifting communication blockade in occupied Kashmir is one of the primary demands as most of those living in Delhi and other parts of India have been unable to talk to their families back home due to severe restrictions in place.
Indian Parliament had approved the scrapping of special status accorded to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. It also approved a bill to split Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The clampdown in Kashmir was imposed by India on Monday, hours before revoking Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
The protesters also demanded ensuring safety of students and professionals from the territory putting up in New Delhi and other Indian cities.
The human rights and democratic principles have been endangered in occupied Kashmir, said Delhi-based clinical psychologist, Sharika, who hails from Islamabad district.
