KASHMIR, India—Referendum on Scottish’s independence has re-ignited the demand of similar right be given to Kashmiri people, and encourage their leadership to launch the peaceful freedom movement with new enthusiasm. The leaders have demanded that India follow through on a promise to grant a similar vote in the disputed territory.
Huriyat Leader Mirvaiz Umar Farooq said, “We hope India will also change its approach and realise the fact that people’s rights can’t be trampled upon.” Farooq is the head Muslim priest on the Indian side of Kashmir, where a violent insurgency against New Delhi’s rule raged through the 1990s and resentment still runs high.
“It is encouraging that in a peaceful manner people will be deciding their future”, he added.
India has never carried out a promise made more than six decades ago to hold a plebiscite that would determine the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
It now considers the entire region of snow-capped mountains and fertile valleys an integral part of its territory and maintains a massive military presence in Jammu and Kashmir, its northernmost and only Muslim-majority state.
Another Kashmiri freedom fighter Syed Ali Shah Geelani lauded the UK for giving Scotland the vote, adding that London should now put pressure on India to grant Kashmiris a referendum. He said, “India should learn lessons from the UK and honour its commitment of granting right to self-determination to people of Kashmir.”
