India faces 'Black Day' protests across Britain

Demonstrations held outside Indian High Commission in London, Indian Consulate in Birmingham

LONDON:

While the fascist Narendra Modi regime was brandishing weaponry on the roads of New Delhi, a clear sign that the RSS government signifies terror across South Asia, the Indian state faced strong demonstrations across the UK on Thursday.

The demonstrations marking India’s so-called Republic Day as Black Day saw Kashmiris, members of the Sikh community, and their allies pressing the British government to intervene and halt the ongoing genocide in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Demonstrations were held outside Indian High Commission in London and the Indian Consulate in Birmingham.

Raising slogans against the so-called UAPA, protestors said such laws reflect the colonial mindset of the Indian rulers.

“The black laws like the UAPA have no place in the modern and enlightened era that is the 21st century,” said Fahim Kayani, leader of the Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK.

“But India has been a misleading member of the comity of nations and has exploited the West’s so-called War on Terror to suppress Kashmiris and other communities, especially Sikh members,” Kayani said.

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The Kashmir diaspora leader said while Kashmiris remained caged by one million Indian occupying forces in IIOJK, India, if it were a civilized nation, had no right to celebrate its Republic Day.

“Only those nations who respect wishes and aspirations of other nations, like Kashmiris, have a right to celebrate their freedom,” he added.

Pointing out India’s blatant misuse of its colonial laws, the demonstrators said: “If speaking for ones rights is terrorism, then India’s Gandhi was the terrorist of the century.”

“Fascist Indian regime labelling Dr Asif Dar, a renowned physician, is nothing but a move aimed at scaring Kashmiris who live in diaspora,” Kayani said.

Kayani said Dr Dar speaks against the illegal Indian occupation of Kashmir and is an ardent supporter of non-violent resistance movement to end illegal Indian occupation in Kashmir.

“Why is India so scared of Kashmiris?” Kayani asked. “If India is so confident about its credentials as a democracy, New Delhi should immediately allow Kashmiris exercise their right to self-determination.”

“The Indian illegal move against Dr Asif Dar is basically expression of long arm of Indian state which is going after Kashmiris around the world. No civilized nation can ever think of following people in other nations… Such steps by Indian regime is a slap on international community as India has overstepped its mandate as a member of comity of nations,” Kayani said.

Addressing the demonstrations, the Sikh leader Ranjit Singh Srai condemned India’s holding of Republic Day celebrations.

“This day in 1950 when Indian state adopted its constitution basically legitimized its theft of the right of self-determination from the peoples of the Punjab and Kashmir,” Srai said.

Srai said time has come all the communities resisting Indian occupation of their lands should unite in action and force international community to hold India accountable.

“For any success, grass roots momentum is needed in western nations especially Europe where the local governments must be informed vile acts of Indian state i.e. colonial polices like in Kashmir and the Punjab,” he said.