“Those who participate in such functions, mostly due to coercion, should bear in mind that they are causing a great damage to the national cause and undermining the sacrifices of martyrs,” he said.
“India has no moral justification to celebrate its Republic Day while that country continues to usurp the basic human and democratic rights of millions of people by forcibly occupying Jammu and Kashmir,” Geelani said, according to a statement issued here.
Paying tributes to the martyrs of 21 January, 1990 Gawkadal massacre, 25 January 1990 Handwara massacre and 27 January 1994 Kupwara massacre, Geelani demanded a probe by UN War Crimes Tribunal into all such incidents. He asked people in these areas to offer special prayers and observe complete shutdown on January 21, 25 and 27, respectively.
Geelani said Kashmiris were not fighting against Indian people or any particular religion but “oppression and injustice.”
“Our struggle for right to self determination is based on principles and meets all democratic requirements. On the other hand, India, by forcibly occupying Jammu and Kashmir, has strangulated democracy. Therefore, it has no moral right to celebrate republic day,” he said.
“We believe in the principle of‘live and let live’ and want India to prosper. But while that country would be busy with republic day celebrations Kashmir suffers due to political uncertainty,” he said.
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