Commenting on the former finance minister and BJP leader Yashwant Sinha’s statement that the “use of force to quell rebellion in Kashmir was the state policy of India and New Delhi held on to Kashmir by dint of its armed forces,” Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani today said it vindicates their stand.
“Right from 1947 the Kashmir issue has been seen only through the prism of military might while as aspirations and emotions of people have always been ignored. Indian leadership’s denial of the historical and ground realities and parroting the ‘Atoot Ang’ rhetoric was the biggest blunder, New Delhi made, giving birth to a tragedy which has engulfed more than three generations of a helpless people of Jammu Kashmir. It has not only threatened the peace of the subcontinent but has also put the two nuclear nations at the verge of catastrophic collision,” Geelani, said in a statement.
He said, “Yashwant Sinha’s statement has neither surprised us nor did we expect anything substantial form Indian arrogant leadership. It vindicates our stand that most people under the toxic influence of power and might fail to accept truth.”
Hurriyat (G) chairman said, “Indian former minister has accepted the hard reality. Had these assertions not been right then more than a million forces with latest weaponry would have not be patrolling every street here, then draconian laws like AFSPA, PSA, and Disturbed Area Act etc. would not have been enforced.”
“The issue of Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized dispute and can’t be changed by the military might. We advise Indian politicians to shun their ego and stubbornness, accept the ground realities and come forward to address this basic issue according to the wishes and aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Geelani said.
Meanwhile, the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) chairman Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, while reacting to the Yeshwant Sinha’s statement, said, “It vindicates our stand that Indian authorities have been relying on their military might to suppress people’s aspirations and muzzle their voices for the last over 70 years.”
“The blood of Kashmiris is being spilled ruthlessly and with impunity which is highly condemnable,” Sehrai said.
“Rulers fail to understand that a nation that has resolved to achieve right to self-determination and cannot be suppressed by use of slaughter and oppressive measures. The world community including UN and all human rights organisations must take the cognizance of his statement,” Sehrai said.