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Srinagar, June 21, 2013 (PPI-OT): In occupied Kashmir, the veteran Hurriyet leader Syed Ali Gilani has termed Operation Shiva as part of a conspiracy to defame’ ongoing Kashmiris liberation movement at international level.
Syed Ali Gilani addressing a press conference in Srinagar said that he could not rule out attacks on Amarnath pilgrims by the Indian intelligence agencies.
He said that the Indian army and other intelligence agencies were involved in many incidents including Chattisinghpora massacre and abduction of foreign tourists in 1995 to defame ongoing movement in Kashmir.
He said for last over 150 years, Amarnath Yatra was being conducted with religious fervour in Kashmir.
“Kashmiris have been smoothly facilitating the Yatra. This is a unique example of communal harmony and brotherhood. Even during economic blockade enforced by communal forces against Kashmiris in 2008, people of Kashmir organized langars for Yatris when their own children were deprived of milk and food. So there is no question of any threat to the Yatris,” he maintained
The veteran Hurriyet leader also stressed restricting the number of Amarnath pilgrims. “It is estimated that over nine lac pilgrims would visit Amarnath during the 55-day pilgrimage. This would prove detrimental for fragile eco-system of the area. I demand that the number of pilgrims should be restricted to 150 per day on Gangotri pattern,” he said.
He reiterated his longstanding demand to hand-over the affairs of Amaranth Yatra to Kashmiri Pandits. “Yatra is a religious affair and it should be kept away from politics,” he added.
Gilani called for complete shutdown on the visit of Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh to Kashmir on June 25 to remind him of unfulfilled promise of New Delhi of providing right to self-determination to Kashmiris.
“The shutdown is against the denial of inalienable right to self-determination to Kashmiris, snatching of political space for Hurriyet leadership, suppression of the aspirations of Kashmiris by military might, false threat perception to Amarnath Yatra and to press for return of mortal remains of Muhammad Maqbool Butt and Muhammad Afzal Guru,” Gilani said.
He said Kashmiris have been denied right to self-determination since 1947. “Indian leadership had promised this inalienable right to Kashmiris. It also took Kashmir dispute to the United Nations which passed 18 resolutions guaranteeing the right to self-determination to people of Jammu and Kashmir but India still denies this right to Kashmiris,” he deplored.
Gilani said even the then Indian Home Minister, P Chidambaram in 2010 had stated that Kashmir problem is about broken promises. “Kashmiris have been peacefully struggling for right to self-determination. On visit of the Indian prime minister to Kashmir, I want to remind Indian Prime Minister that he is legally and morally bound to provide this right to Kashmiris,” he said.
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