Isolate the anti-movement elements ‘within our ranks’, Shabir Shah asks people 

Urges Indian intellectual class to raise voice in favour of Kashmiris; ‘For greater goals require great sacrifices’

Srinagar: Hailing the spirit and resolve of youths towards the freedom movement, the incarcerated chairman of Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) Shabir Ahmad Shah on Friday said the anti-movement elements “within our ranks should be isolated”.

In a statement issued to Kashmir Today Shah saluted the steadfastness of the people particularly the youths saying ups and downs do happen during the struggle but “we should exhibit consistency while resisting the oppression”.

“For greater goals require great sacrifices. History is witnesses to the fact. We have been struggling for the last 70 years and have rendered invaluable sacrifices since then. Some Mir-e-Jafars (traitors) are hell bent on creating pessimism in people’s minds and need is to keep our resolve of freedom intact and not get dejected in any way,” he said.

“The slavery in Jammu Kashmir has reached its peak. We’re not allowed to perform our religious obligations while our mosques are sealed; nor are we permitted to express condolence over killings with each other,” Shah added.

He appealed the well-to-do people across the State to “extend every possible help to the affected families”. “Though everyone is duty-bound to share his/her responsibility, but the elders of the localities, Imams, and local committees are expected to play a major role in this regard,” he said.

Expressing deep grief over the continuous “state-sponsored oppression” in the State, the DFP chairman said Indian rulers and their “collaborators” are living in a fool’s paradise that they can “break the pro-freedom spirit and resolve” of the people of Jammu Kashmir through such “coercive” measures.

Shah urged the intellectual class of India to “question the aggressive approach of your rulers and ask them why they are after just defence procurement rather than overcoming the human issues like poverty, hunger, and diseases and also why it is involved in continuous human rights violation in Jammu Kashmir”.

“The people of India must realize that the resolution of Kashmir dispute will bring economic prosperity and development to their country,” he said.

Shabir Ahmad Shah said force and suppression cannot change the historical reality that the people of Jammu Kashmir have never acknowledged the “forcible and illegal occupation” of India. “Reality is that Kashmiris have been resisting the Indian forcible rule for the last 70 years and will continue their struggle for freedom,” he said.

Condemning the arrest of youth and elderly people, Shah said the “so-called” rulers have waged a war against the people. He said those languishing in jails are subjected to inhuman treatment.

Meanwhile, Shah reiterated his appeal to people to make the protest program issued by the resistance leadership a success.