Complete shutdown to be observed in IIOJK against Amit Shah’s visit: Bhat

Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement (JKSM) Chairman Altaf Ahmad Bhat denounced the visit of India’s Home Minister Amit Shah to Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), announcing that the occupied valley will observe a complete shutdown tomorrow (Wednesday).

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the JKSM chief said “Amit Shah and company” unleashed reign of terror upon the besieged and oppressed Kashmiris after abrogating the semi-autonomous status of the IIOJK by revoking Articles 370 and 35-A in 2019.

The Kashmiri leader further said that Amit Shah’s visit is aimed at rubbing salt on the wounds of Kashmiris who have been living in misery under the occupation of one million Indian forces.

Every sector including education, business, health, tourism and social welfare were hit hard to paralyse the Kahsmiris economically and financially, in a bid punish the brave people for not submitting before India military might, he added.

A complete shutdown will be observed tomorrow (Wednesday) against the Hindutva leader and the Indian home minister’s visit to the occupied territory, he maintained.

While calling for shutdown during Amit Shah’s visit, Bhat said that a strong and vivid message should be sent to the world by shutting down and halting everything that Kashmiris reject Indian occupation, its policies and its hegemony.

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Bhat while highlighting pain and suffering of the Kashmiri people since 1989 said that Indian occupation forces have killed more than 96,114 innocent people among them 7,254 in custody.

“165,120 civilian arrested, 110,490 structures torched/destroyed, 22,950 women widowed, 107,880 children orphaned, 1,125 women gang-raped / molested.”

Kashmiris will send a clear message by observing a complete shutdown that the barbaric, killers and neo-colonist settlers who are jeopardising the peace of whole of South Asia are forcefully visiting the Muslim-majority region.

The JKSM chairman lamented that the developed world and international organisations are being misled by India. “Instead of pressuring India to respect human rights, international laws and UN resolutions, India is left unchecked to crush dissent, suppress voice of freedom, jail Hurriyat leaders and kill innocent youth to continue its illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.