Terming Shaheed Muhammad Maqbool Bhat (RA) and Shaheed Muhammad Afzal Guru (RA) as “immortal” heroes of the Kashmir’s freedom movement, the incarcerated Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) chairman, Shabir Ahmad Shah on Friday said these martyrs gave a new direction to the freedom struggle and rose up as heroes for the Kashmiri youths.Shabir Ahmad Shah, in a statement to KNS, also supported the shutdown call given by the pro-freedom leadership on February 9 and 11 which mark the martyrdom anniversaries of these leaders.“We observe the February 9 and 11 as ‘Youm-e-Tajdeed-e-Ehad’ (Rejuvenation of the pledge) and we are committed to complete the mission of our revered martyrs,” Shah said.Reiterating the demand of return of the mortal remains of both martyrs, Shah said, “India must bear in mind that no law in the world justifies harbouring any enmity towards the slain and to return the mortal remains to families is a moral responsibility levied upon it.”Paying tributes to Shaheed Afzal Guru (RA), Shah said though he (Afzal) was hanged without his family being informed about the same his martyrdom made him eternal. “Today, each and every child of Kashmir takes the names of Shaheed Maqbool Bhat (RA) and Shaheed Afzal Guru (RA) with utmost pride.”
Shah said the hanging of Shaheed Afzal Guru (RA) was the “murder of law and justice for which the Congress and National Conference are directly responsible who played dirty politics”.He said Indian Supreme Court’s judgment that Afzal Guru was hanged to satisfy the collective conscience of the nation is a “shame” to humanity.“Even his family particularly the wife and son were not entitled the right of last meet. His hanging is an unforgettable tragedy of human history.Though he was hanged without being provided justice, his martyrdom gave rise to thousands of Maqbools and Afzals in Kashmir.”
Shah said the killers of the former Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, are in jails, “but the so-called champions of democracy were eager to hang Afzal Guru (RA)”. “History counts these rulers and administrators among the brutes.”
The DFP Chairman said the world leadership, UN, EU must use their offices in securing the return of the mortal remains of Shaheed Maqbool Bhat (RA) and Shaheed Afzal Guru (RA) which lie buried in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail.“To demand return of mortal remains of these martyrs, we have been sending reminders and memorandum to UNO, and today, we again appeal to the world leadership and UNO to take cognisance of such human issue,” he said.Shabir Ahmad Shah appealed the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, to use his influence to convince India to acknowledge and agree to the just and genuine demands of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.Meanwhile, the DFP spokesperson paid tribute to three Lashkar –e-Toyiba Mujahedeen who were martyred in Hajin gunfight with Indian forces while reiterating his pledge to continue the freedom movement to its logical conclusion. (KNS)