Lack of political space pushing youth to militancy: Separatists

Srinagar, February 19

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Three key separatist leaders on Tuesday alleged that the “choking political space” was the mean reason for the youth opting for militancy.

The statement issued by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik under the banner of the joint resistance leadership said the ball lies in the court of the Indian political and military leadership while mothers, fathers and even the political leadership had no role in it.

“Aggressive policies of India and ban on political dissent are pushing Kashmiris to the wall and hence, promoting the worst kind of violence.” 

They described the political situation emerging after the Pulwama attack as depressing. “If it was possible to defeat people’s movement by military oppression, police highhandedness, killings, massacres and other tyrant means then no country, including India, would have tasted freedom and sovereignty,” the leaders said.

“Fathers, mothers or even politicians can’t persuade youth to refrain from treading some path. However,

the Indian politicians and military leadership have chosen to choke every little space on political dissent in Kashmir.” — TNS