People's Democracy

MORE than four hundred people from various parts of Jammu & Kashmir converged in the state capital –Srinagar on October 12, to denounce the inhuman U.S. bombing of Afghanistan.

The rally, held under the aegis of J&K state unit of CPI(M), evoked good response in the face of severe impediments. Since a hartal call was given on that day by various groups in the state against the American attacks, there was tension in the valley. There was hardly any transport available for the rallyists. Even the few vehicles which ferried them were stoned by some people.

Inspite of this the rallyists showed tremendous enthusiasm, shouting anti-American slogans. "Baykasoor Afghan Logon ka Katile Aam Bandh Karo", UNO Aagey Aao- America per Rok Lagao" shouted the protestors.

A public meeting was held prior to the rally which was addressed by the state secretary of CPI(M) and MLA, Yousuf Tarigami. He said this rally being held in response to the call given by the central committee of CPI(M), is significant in the backdrop of what Kashmir has been facing for the last 12 years. Though killing of innocent people in any part of the world is to be condemned, Tarigami wondered how all the killings of innocents in Kashmir never evoked any serious reaction from anybody for the last so many years. One attack on its soil and it has begun an inhuman war, disregarding international law and UNO. He said the lives of innocent Afghani’s are equally precious but America was behaving in an inhuman manner without any regard to the civilian casualities in its bombing.

Tarigami charged that it was America which designed the whole infrastructure of terrorism worldwide. It promoted the terrorist forces for advancing its market interests.

O.N. Trisal, state president of J&K Kisan Tehreek moved a resolution condemning the brutal US war. Ghulam Nabi Malik, state general secretary of J&K Kisan Tehreek, M.Yaqub, state president of Democratic Youth Federation of Kashmir seconded the resolution and spoke.

After the meeting the protestors marched for two kilometres in the rally, which ended peacefully.