SRINAGAR: In occupied Kashmir, the joint resistance leadership comprising Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, has urged the people to boycott the upcoming so-called Indian parliamentary elections in the territory.
The leaders said, participation of people in the sham polls provides India an opportunity to mislead the world community about the Kashmir dispute and the ground situation of the territory, said a press release issued on Friday.
Syed Ali Gilani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik called for shutdown in Srinagar, Ganderbal and Budgam districts on April 9 and in Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts on April 12 when poling for the sham polls would be held in these areas.
The leaders said that the police action and restrictions on press conference proved that upcoming farcical elections were a mere drama being enacted with the help of armed forces. “Allow us to meet people, and not a single person will cast vote. These elections are being held to mislead the international community and India is desperate to justify its occupation. These dramas won’t alter the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir. It is just a ploy to prolong their forced occupation,” the leaders said.
The statement, while referring to the ongoing mass uprising, said that the freedom struggle was in its crucial stage and people through their determination had conveyed a strong message to the world. “People straightway have conveyed their message that they won’t accept anything less than freedom,” it said.
Hailing the commitment and resolve of people, the leaders said that the way people are following the resistance programme was praiseworthy. They said, “For the time being, we have rescheduled the programme and decided to concentrate on election boycott.” They said, at the completion of 250 days of Intifada, the authorities have kick started election drama just to divert people’s attention from resistance movement.
