APHC Honors 1947 Jammu Martyrs, Criticizes India’s Kashmir Policies

In a solemn tribute to the victims of the 1947 Jammu massacre, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir recently called on the public to honor the memory of those killed on November 6, commemorating the date as “Martyrs’ Day.” In a statement released in Srinagar, APHC spokesperson Abdul Rashid Minhas emphasized the significance of the massacre, describing it as one of the worst tragedies in modern history, which saw hundreds of thousands of Kashmiri Muslims killed by Dogra forces, the Indian Army, and members of Hindutva groups, including the RSS, during their migration to Pakistan.

“Martyrs’ Mission”

The APHC statement mourned the tragedy, urging the people of Jammu and Kashmir to renew their commitment to the “martyrs’ mission” and to remember the lives lost in the struggle for self-determination. Highlighting the ongoing challenges in the region, the APHC accused the Indian government of adopting oppressive policies targeting Kashmiris.

It noted that since the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in August 2019, led by the BJP government, there has been a systematic disempowerment of the Kashmiri people, whom the APHC claims have rejected New Delhi’s policies as unlawful.

India’s colonial-era tactics criticized

The APHC criticized India’s ruling party, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of employing divisive politics reminiscent of colonial-era tactics. The spokesperson argued that the government is trying to create divides among communities, including Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians, to maintain control over the region.

In response to these alleged strategies, the APHC urged Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and supporters around the world to observe Martyrs’ Day with demonstrations, seminars, and gatherings to honor the lives lost in the region’s freedom struggle.

Militarization of IIOJK

The APHC also condemned what it described as the militarization of IIOJK, claiming that the deployment of over a million Indian troops has turned the territory into a site of violence, marked by killings, arrests, and other human rights abuses. The organization further alleged that non-Kashmiri groups are being settled in the area as part of a demographic shift aimed at weakening the local population’s influence. This, according to the APHC, represents a threat to Kashmir’s Muslim-majority identity, with Hindutva-backed groups reportedly being trained to intimidate and oppress the local populace.

The recent grenade blast in a crowded Srinagar market also drew scrutiny from the APHC, with Minhas questioning how such incidents could occur in a heavily guarded region. The APHC accused Indian forces of orchestrating such attacks to cast a negative light on Kashmir’s independence movement and to justify increased security measures.

Stand vigilant against the “Hindutva conspiracy”

In a closing statement, the APHC leader called on Kashmiris to stand vigilant against the “Hindutva conspiracy” and to persist in their fight for freedom. He extended condolences over the recent passing of respected community leader Mirwaiz Molvi Muhammad Ahmad Shah, expressing solidarity with his family and offering prayers for his soul.

Additionally, the Democratic Freedom Party released a statement sharing the grief over Shah’s death, reflecting the solidarity within Kashmiri leadership and their continued commitment to the cause of self-determination in Jammu and Kashmir.