Kashmiris want settlement of Kashmir dispute: Syed Ali Gilani

New Delhi, February 04 (KMS): The veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani has said that Kashmiris are not against India’s integrity but want it to resolve the Kashmir dispute in accordance with their aspirations.

Syed Ali Gilani was addressing a gathering of members of Indian civil society in New Delhi organised by prominent Indian lawyer and the Chairman of Delhi-based Kashmir Committee, Ram Jethmalani, at his residence to discuss various aspects of the present situation of occupied Kashmir. “We want India and Pakistan to prosper and are not against anybody, but both the countries should realize that peace cannot prevail till Kashmir issue is resolved.”

The veteran leader that promises made by India to the Kashmiris should be fulfilled and they should be allowed to decide their fate by themselves. He said maintained that a referendum should be held in Jammu and Kashmir and whatever would be the outcome, the Hurriyet leadership would accept it. He said that the people of Kashmir had been yearning for peace for the past 65 years. “We are not violence mongers, nor are we fanatics, neither terrorists. We have been demanding our birthright, which was promised to us in 1947,” he added.

Syed Ali Gilani said, “We have never been averse to talks. We know war and violence are not the solutions. Since 2008, Kashmiris have been staging peaceful protests but they have been dealt with force and crushed.” He urged the members of Indian civil society to raise their voice against oppression in the occupied territory. “In past 22 years more than one lac Kashmiris have died, there are 30,000 widows, 50,000 orphans, nearly 8000 youth were subjected to custodial disappearance, 5000 unmarked graves have surfaced in different parts of the Valley and what not. We hope Indian civil society takes a note of the sufferings of Kashmiris and intervene,” he stated.

Gilani pointed out that the Government of India had choked the political space in occupied Kashmir. “Many Hurriyet leaders and activists are languishing in various jails. I was allowed to offer Friday prayers just twice in 2011. I remained under house arrest for almost one complete year. Police and Army call the shots and they are virtually ruling Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.