Mujtaba Wani
SRINAGAR: The Muttahida Majlis-e-Mashawarat or a joint advisory council of separatist parties in Kashmir have urged the Indian civil society and human rights activists to protest at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
The council was formed to chalk out a strategy of protests to demand the body of Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat for burial in their homeland.
New Delhi has outrightly denied returning the bodies, but the separatists in Kashmir have vowed to continue protests until their demands are met. The council issued a fresh programme today (Sunday).
In a revised version of its statement, the council has asked people to observe a shutdown in the valley on Wednesday now and hold protests on other days. It has asked them to chant slogans like “Allah o Akbar”, “We want Freedom” and “Return the mortal remains of the martyrs”.
The revision, it says, has come in view of ‘Pakistan Day’ which is celebrated on March 23 in Pakistan.
It has also asked the Indian civil society and human rights activists to hold protest demonstrations at the Jantar Mantar in the Indian capital New Delhi on Saturday (it coincides with Pakistan Day).
Observers say it will be interesting to watch the response from Indian activists, many of whom have criticised the Indian government for executing Guru and have even questioned fairness of his trial. The activists even took a dig at the judiciary for awarding Guru a death penalty.
But observers say they are skeptical that prominent activists will respond to the separatists’ call in view of recent happenings.
Besides representatives of both factions of the separatist alliance Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, the council also comprises the pro-Independence Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) led by Muhammad Yasin Malik.
Malik recently drew ire of many quarters in India for sharing the dais with militant leader Hafiz Saeed in Pakistan, whom India considers an “enemy” as they believe it is he who masterminded the Mumbai attacks that killed nearly 200 people.
Observers believe the meeting will force many Indian activists to stay away from leaders like Malik or protests called by a group of which he is a part, for fear of reprisal from the Indian society at large.
Full Program
A statement mailed by the council says there will be no shutdown on Monday, but people have been asked to hold protest after Dusk.
On Tuesday, students, both males and females, have been asked to hold protest demonstrations and offer the Zuhr prayers in their college and university campuses.
Wednesday: Shutdown
On Thursday, the council has appealed for a black out of mosques, houses and commercial buildings in the evening.
On Fridays, the separatists have asked prayer leaders to offer special prayers “Qunut e Nazilah” and move a “resolution” demanding that the bodies of Guru and Bhat be returned.
Saturday: Protests by Indian civil society and Human rights activists at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
