‘Kashmiris to Observe Black Day Tomorrow Amid Indian Republic Day’

On January 26, as India celebrates Republic Day, Kashmiris across the globe will observe Black Day, a powerful protest against India’s continued denial of their right to self-determination and the ongoing illegal occupation of IIOJK.

Every year, on January 26, India celebrates Republic Day, but for the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), this day has become a symbol of resistance and a call for justice. Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) and across the world will observe January 26 as Black Day to highlight India’s continued denial of their right to self-determination. The protest aims to draw international attention to the oppressive measures imposed by India in IIOJK and the region’s struggle for freedom.

The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and several pro-freedom organizations, including the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), have issued the call for the observance of Black Day. This day will be marked by a complete shutdown across IIOJK, alongside anti-India rallies and demonstrations in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan, and various other global capitals. The shutdown is a powerful way to express discontent with India’s illegal occupation and to assert the Kashmiri people’s unyielding demand for self-determination.

By holding protests and demonstrations, Kashmiris aim to send a strong message to the international community that India, as the occupying force, has no legal or moral right to celebrate Republic Day in a region it controls unlawfully. In IIOJK, posters issued by the APHC and other organizations have called for a boycott of all Indian official events and for the hoisting of black flags on homes, shops, and buildings as a mark of resistance. These posters, which have appeared throughout the region in recent days, reflect the sentiments of the people, urging them to take a stand against Indian occupation.

One of the key figures in this movement, jailed Chairman of APHC, Masarrat Aalam Butt, has called on the Kashmiri people to observe Republic Day as Black Day to protest India’s unlawful control over the region. In a message from Tihar Jail in New Delhi, Butt reaffirmed that India’s military presence in Jammu and Kashmir is illegal, unconstitutional, and a blatant violation of international law. He further emphasized that a country that strips its people of their fundamental rights has no legitimate reason to celebrate its Republic Day on occupied land.

“A country that has stripped the people of Jammu and Kashmir of their fundamental rights has no moral ground to celebrate its Republic Day in the territory,” Butt said, reaffirming the illegitimacy of India’s occupation and reiterating the Kashmiri people’s unwavering commitment to resist oppression.

The shutdown and demonstrations are not just a local protest but a call to the world to recognize India’s hypocrisy and the injustices faced by the Kashmiri people. The observance of Black Day is an affirmation of Kashmiris’ determination to continue their struggle for self-determination, a right that is enshrined in numerous United Nations resolutions but ignored by New Delhi. Despite years of occupation and relentless oppression, the Kashmiri people remain resolute in their resistance.

As Kashmiris mark January 26 as Black Day, it is a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for freedom in IIOJK. This day represents the Kashmiri people’s demand for justice and the restoration of their fundamental rights, as they continue to resist India’s illegal occupation and fight for their rightful place in the world.