Former legislator Er Rasheed on Saturday led a protest march in Handwara against banning of Jama’at-e-Islami (JeI) and arrest spree in Kashmir valley.
In a statement, Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) said that hundreds of people joined the march held at main chowk Handwara.
It said the protesters holding placards with messages to seek revocation of the ban on JeI and an end to “state suppression.”
Rasheed urged the union government to reconsider its decision and not to choke the space for voices of dissent.
“Jama’at-e-Islami is not an underground organization and has been operating since decades in the entire state. It is known to all that neither Kashmir issue is creation of Jama’at-e-Islami, nor do Kashmiris seek resolution to Kashmir issue because Jama’at-e-Islami wants them to say so,” said Rasheed, according to the statement.
“While New Delhi always talks of peaceful resolution to Kashmir dispute but whatsoever is being done on the ground is nothing but an act of muzzling all those voices who dare to speak truth and talk about resolution to Kashmir dispute.”
Rasheed said choking the space for peaceful political activities will yield nothing except anarchy and distrust between New Delhi and Srinagar.
Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to change his Kashmir policy, Rasheed said sooner or later New Delhi has to talk to Kashmiris for a peaceful and durable resolution to the dispute.
He said the resolution to the dispute will not only benefit Kashmiri people but the entire subcontinent.
“Those crying of radicalization should realize that if political space is constantly choked, those not believing in peaceful struggle and resolution through dialogue get stronger,” he said.
