IIOJK Residents Declare Indian Republic Day as Black Day in Protest

In various regions of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, a call has been made through posters urging the residents to observe Indian Republic Day on January 26 as Black Day. According to reports, this initiative is rooted in opposition to India’s celebration of Republic Day, commemorating the implementation of its Constitution on January 26, 1950. The Constitution defines India as a secular country, a concept sharply at odds with the Hindutva ideology championed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is determined to establish India as a Hindu state.

The posters, widely supported by various factions of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), call for the observance of January 26 as a black day and have been prominently displayed on walls, pillars, and electricity poles in Srinagar and other parts of the region. The APHC has been vocal in its opposition to the Indian government’s policies in the region, particularly its stance on the status of Jammu and Kashmir.

These posters label the so-called Indian Republic Day celebrations in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as a “cruel joke.” They emphasize that India should recognize the clear message from the people of Kashmir, who have consistently rejected what they view as an illegal occupation of their territory.

A significant aspect of the protest involves urging residents to hoist black flags on the rooftops of their houses, shops, pillars, and electricity poles on India’s Republic Day. This symbolic gesture aims to convey to the global community that January 26 is not a day of celebration but rather a black day for the people living under the occupation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The posters, which are also being circulated on social media platforms, go on to encourage people to observe special prayers on the anniversaries of the massacres that have occurred in the region. This call for remembrance underscores the ongoing struggle and the sacrifices made by the Kashmiri people in their quest for what they consider their right to self-determination.

The move to designate Republic Day as Black Day is a clear expression of discontent and opposition to what the posters term as India’s attempts to alter the demographic and cultural landscape of the region. The message being conveyed is that the people of Kashmir are determined to make their dissent known and assert their right to determine their own political future, free from what they perceive as an unjust occupation.