Vol. XL No. 31 July 31, 2016
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DELHI: Dharna against Brutal Repression in Kashmir

THE Students’ Federation of India, Delhi state committee, along with other organisations including Jana Sanskriti, JMS, DSMM, DYFI, JLS and JNM, organised a dharna against the continuing state repression of the Kashmiri civilians on July 25. Nearly 50 persons have been killed and thousands injured in the brutal repression of the protest demonstrations across the Kashmir valley, following the murder of terrorist Burhan Wani in an encounter. The shameful use of pellet guns against children and women has led to a situation of extreme human rights violation. Dharna was addressed by Hannan Mollah, former Lok Sabha member, Vijoo Krishnan (joint secretary, AIKS), Maimoona Mollah (president, Delhi JMS) and Sunand (secretary, Delhi SFI). Speakers highlighted the fact that the Kashmir issue is a political issue and it cannot be solved through the barrel of the gun. Any advance towards solving the situation must start by initiating a dialogue process involving all the stakeholders. Speakers also demanded that the AFSPA, which is being indiscriminately used against the civilians must be scrapped and also that the valley be demilitarised. Any long term resolution has to take into account the promise of providing maximum autonomy to Kashmiris as defined in the article 370.